Long-term monitoring and treatment of venous thromboembolism disease: recommendations of venous thromboembolism group of the Spanish Society of Internal Medicine

Abstract

Venous thromboembolim (VTE) is a highly prevalent condition that requires long-term monitoring and treatment. This monitoring includes: 1) completing the etiological study and determining the risk of VTE recurrence; 2) establishing the optimal duration of anticoagulant treatment, as well as the type of therapy and its dosage; 3) estimating the risk of bleeding, and 4) identifying the occurrence of chronic complications. This consensus document, prepared by the VTE Group of the Spanish Society of Internal Medicine (SEMI), aims to update and establish consensus recommendations on these aspects. The document focuses on four aspects of management: the first includes risk factors for VTE recurrence after an unprovoked VTE episode and describes the predictive scores of VTE recurrence; the second focuses on risk factors for bleeding; the third provides recommendations for long-term follow-up in VTE, addressing specific considerations for screening chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension and post-thrombotic syndrome of the lower limbs; and the fourth provides guidance on the optimal duration of extended anticoagulant treatment, as well as the type of therapy and its dosage;. For each area, an exhaustive literature review was conducted, analyzing the updated VTE clinical guidelines and recent studies. This document is intended to be a guide in the long-term management of VTE based on the most current knowledge.