For Immediate Release:
January 10, 2000

CONTACT: David Ong
(916) 734-9049

SUBJECTS NEEDED FOR STUDY OF BLOOD CLOTS IN VEINS

(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) - Researchers from the UC Davis School of Medicine and Medical Center's Division of General Medicine are seeking subjects for a study of low-dose, oral blood thinning to prevent the recurrence of blood clots in veins.

To be eligible for the study, subjects must have had a blood clot in the vein of a leg (deep-vein thrombosis) or a blood clot in their lungs (pulmonary embolism) in the past two years. The clot must not have developed after surgery or trauma to the leg.

The current treatment for a blood clot in a vein involves taking a blood thinner for three to six months. However, in up to 20 percent of these patients, a blood clot redevelops during the first four years after stopping treatment. In addition, about 7-8 percent of patients who take a blood thinner experience some form of bleeding complication, including nosebleeds, blood in the urine and a major bleeding ulcer.

The UC Davis study will attempt to resolve the dilemma that these patients face: stopping treatment with the risk of developing another blood clot, or continuing treatment with the risk of developing a bleeding complication. Called PREVENT (Prevention of Recurrent Veinous Thrombosis), the study is sponsored by the National Institutes of Health and is being conducted at many hospitals in the United States.

The study will evaluate extended treatment using a "low-intensity" blood thinner compared with no treatment. Researchers will compare the rate of bleeding and rate of recurrence of a blood clot between two groups of subjects, those who receive the low-intensity blood thinner and those who take a placebo (contains no active compounds).

The study will last three to four years and require routine visits to the UC Davis General Medicine Research Clinic in Sacramento. Subjects must first complete the standard treatment for 12-24 weeks. They will then receive an additional 28 days of treatment with an oral blood thinner, with close monitoring of the blood clotting time. After the 28-day period, subjects will be randomly assigned to either the low-dose treatment or placebo group. They will be monitored closely at least every two months for the remainder of the study. There is no cost to participate in the study, including medications and clinic visits.

The principal investigator is Richard White, medical director of the UC Davis Anticoagulation Clinic. Those interested in participating in the study or obtaining more information should call Megan Ingram at (916) 734-0160.

Copies of all news releases from UC Davis Health System are available on the web at http://news.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu

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