SECONDARY PROPHYLAXIS OF VENOUS THROMBOEMBOLISM (VTE) WITH LOW DOSE APIXABAN OR RIVAROXABAN: RESULTS FROM A PATIENT POPULATION WITH MORE THAN 2 YEARS OF MEDIAN FOLLOW-UP

Background: Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are widely used for the treatment and secondary prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Nowadays, DOACs represent the gold standard for long-term anticoagulation, with low-intensity DOACs administration becoming increasingly used worldwide in such scenario. Albeit low-intensity apixaban and rivaroxaban are approved for clinical usage as secondary VTE prophylaxis, there are few literature data regarding their efficacy and safety with a long follow-up. Objectives: The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of low-dose DOACs for VTE secondary prophylaxis, in patients at high risk of VTE recurrence. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated patients who required long-term anticoagulant secondary prophylaxis to prevent recurrent VTE, treated with apixaban 2.5 mg BID or rivaroxaban 10 mg daily with a follow-up ≥ 12 months. Results: The examined patients were 323. The median low-dose DOACs administration time was 25.40 months (IQR 13.93-45.90). Twelve (3.7%) VTE recurrences were observed; 21 bleeding events were registered (6.5%), including one episode of MB (0.3%), 8 CRNMB (2.5%) and 12 minor bleeding (3.7%). No statistically significant difference in the rate of VTE recurrence and/or bleeding events emerged between rivaroxaban and apixaban groups. Patients included in the study for multiple episodes of VTE presented a significant higher risk of a new VTE recurrence during low-intensity DOAC. Conclusions: Our data suggest that low-dose DOACs may be effective and safe in the secondary VTE prophylaxis in patients at high risk of VTE recurrence, but attention might be needed in their choice in such scenario for patients who experienced multiple episodes of VTE.