• Joanne R Morling, Su Ern Yeoh, and Dinanda N Kolbach.
• Centre for Population Health Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Medical Buildings, Teviot Place, Edinburgh, UK, EH8 9AG.
• Cochrane Db Syst Rev. 2015 Sep 16 (9): CD005626.

BackgroundPost-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) is a long-term complication of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) that is characterised by pain, swelling, and skin changes in the affected limb. One in three patients with DVT will develop post-thrombotic sequelae within five years. The current standard care for the prevention of PTS following DVT is elastic compression stockings. Rutosides are a group of compounds derived from horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum), a traditional herbal remedy for treating oedema formation in chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). However, it is not known whether rutosides are effective and safe in the prevention of post-thrombotic syndrome. This is an update of the review first published in 2013.ObjectivesTo determine the effectiveness and safety of rutosides for prevention of PTS in patients with DVT, compared to placebo, no intervention, or reference medication.Search MethodsFor this update the Cochrane Vascular Group Trials Search Co-ordinator searched the Specialised Register (last searched September 2015) and the Cochrane Register of Studies (CRS) ((CENTRAL) 2015, Issue 8). Clinical trials databases were searched for details of ongoing and unpublished studies.Selection CriteriaWe planned to include trials of rutosides versus any alternative (placebo, no intervention, or reference medication) in the prevention of PTS in patients with DVT.Data Collection And AnalysisTwo review authors independently assessed studies for inclusion and intended to extract information from the trials.Main ResultsNo studies were identified comparing rutosides versus any alternative in the prevention of PTS.Authors' ConclusionsAs there were no studies identified in this review there is currently insufficient evidence to determine the effectiveness and safety of rutosides for prevention of PTS in patients with DVT. Some studies suggest that rutosides may provide short-term relief of PTS symptoms. However, there is nothing published on their use as a preventative therapy for PTS. High quality randomised controlled trials of rutoside versus any alternative are required to build the evidence base in this area.

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