Doubling the duration of rivaroxaban therapy cuts the long-term risk of recurrent thrombotic events in patients with isolated distal DVT without increasing the risk of major bleeds, research shows.

Compared to adults given placebo after an “uneventful” six-weeks of anticoagulation, Italian doctors say a 12-week regimen of rivaroxaban safely reduces the risk of further VTE by almost half over two years.

Writing in the BMJ, the authors add their findings should provide clarity given the optimal duration of anticoagulant treatment in this setting was unclear.

Their randomised placebo-controlled trial — partially funded by Bayer — involved 402 patients (mean age 65) with symptomatic isolated distal DVT who received standard dose rivaroxaban for six weeks.