Venous Thrombosis Trials at the Methodist Hospital in Houston

Venous thromboembolism continues to be a significant problem in hospitalized patients.1 According to Geerts et al., "The rationale for thromboprophylaxis is based on the high prevalence of venous thromboembolism among hospitalized patients, the clinically silent nature of the disease in the majority of patients, and the morbidity, costs and potential mortality associated with unprevented thrombi."2•³ Approximately two million Americans suffer from deep vein thrombosis (DVT) each year,⁴ but because most of these clots are silent, the true incidence is actually unknown. In addition to the acute thrombotic event with its inherent morbidity and time missed from work, the late sequelae from even properly treated thrombi can present as venous stasis and leg ulcers.

Thromboembolic disease is responsible for approximately 200,000 deaths annually in the United States alone.5 The elderly are at highest risk, with a one-year mortality approaching 21%.6 Although excellent drugs are currently available to prevent and treat DVT, an investigation into new drugs with new targets and designer end points of anticoagulation seemed clinically relevant and timely.

The following paper will discuss the different antithrombotic/anticoagulant agents that have been used in clinical trials at The Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas. Several of the trials have been successfully completed and featured in medical publications such as the New England Journal of Medicine and The Lancet.