Anticoagulant therapy duration. In favour of short-term courses

In recent years, we have observed a tendency to extend anticoagulant therapy for patients with venous thromboembolism disease (VTE). This practice exposes patients to a greater risk of severe and fatal haemorrhage, which, in certain conditions, outweighs the benefits related to the reduction in disease recurrence. This review examines the evidence in favour of reducing anticoagulant therapy as much as possible, especially for patients with VTE "caused" by temporary risk factors, with isolated deep vein thrombosis and with unprovoked VTE and a high risk of haemorrhage.