Compression stockings to prevent post-thrombotic syndrome: a randomised placebo-controlled trial
- PMID: 24315521
- DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(13)61902-9
Compression stockings to prevent post-thrombotic syndrome: a randomised placebo-controlled trial
Abstract
Background: Post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) is a common and burdensome complication of deep venous thrombosis (DVT). Previous trials suggesting benefit of elastic compression stockings (ECS) to prevent PTS were small, single-centre studies without placebo control. We aimed to assess the efficacy of ECS, compared with placebo stockings, for the prevention of PTS.
Methods: We did a multicentre randomised placebo-controlled trial of active versus placebo ECS used for 2 years to prevent PTS after a first proximal DVT in centres in Canada and the USA. Patients were randomly assigned to study groups with a web-based randomisation system. Patients presenting with a first symptomatic, proximal DVT were potentially eligible to participate. They were excluded if the use of compression stockings was contraindicated, they had an expected lifespan of less than 6 months, geographical inaccessibility precluded return for follow-up visits, they were unable to apply stockings, or they received thrombolytic therapy for the initial treatment of acute DVT. The primary outcome was PTS diagnosed at 6 months or later using Ginsberg's criteria (leg pain and swelling of ≥1 month duration). We used a modified intention to treat Cox regression analysis, supplemented by a prespecified per-protocol analysis of patients who reported frequent use of their allocated treatment. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00143598, and Current Controlled Trials, number ISRCTN71334751.
Findings: From 2004 to 2010, 410 patients were randomly assigned to receive active ECS and 396 placebo ECS. The cumulative incidence of PTS was 14·2% in active ECS versus 12·7% in placebo ECS (hazard ratio adjusted for centre 1·13, 95% CI 0·73-1·76; p=0·58). Results were similar in a prespecified per-protocol analysis of patients who reported frequent use of stockings.
Interpretation: ECS did not prevent PTS after a first proximal DVT, hence our findings do not support routine wearing of ECS after DVT.
Funding: Canadian Institutes of Health Research.
Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Comment in
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Elastic compression stockings--is there any benefit?Lancet. 2014 Mar 8;383(9920):851-3. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(13)62347-8. Epub 2013 Dec 6. Lancet. 2014. PMID: 24315518 No abstract available.
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ACP Journal Club. After a first proximal DVT, compression stockings did not prevent the postthrombotic syndrome.Ann Intern Med. 2014 Apr 15;160(8):JC7. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-160-8-201404150-02007. Ann Intern Med. 2014. PMID: 24733224 No abstract available.
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[Compression stockings can not prevent post-thrombotic syndrome].MMW Fortschr Med. 2014 Mar 6;156(4):33. MMW Fortschr Med. 2014. PMID: 24908770 German. No abstract available.
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Elastic compression stockings fail to prevent post-thrombotic syndrome after a first deep vein thrombosis.Evid Based Nurs. 2015 Jan;18(1):22. doi: 10.1136/eb-2014-101873. Epub 2014 Jun 17. Evid Based Nurs. 2015. PMID: 24938301 No abstract available.
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Compression stockings to prevent post-thrombotic syndrome.Lancet. 2014 Jul 12;384(9938):129. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(14)61158-2. Lancet. 2014. PMID: 25016991 No abstract available.
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Compression stockings to prevent post-thrombotic syndrome.Lancet. 2014 Jul 12;384(9938):129-30. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(14)61159-4. Lancet. 2014. PMID: 25016992 No abstract available.
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Compression stockings to prevent post-thrombotic syndrome - Authors' reply.Lancet. 2014 Jul 12;384(9938):130-1. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(14)61160-0. Lancet. 2014. PMID: 25016993 No abstract available.
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PURLs: skip the compression stockings following DVT.J Fam Pract. 2014 Jul;63(7):388-90. J Fam Pract. 2014. PMID: 25198205 Free PMC article.
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