Thromb Haemostasis
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The initial goals of treatment for venous thromboembolism (VTE) are usually achieved with anticoagulation. This review focuses on fibrinolysis and interventional therapy in VTE, treatments whose indications are much more controversial. The benefit-to-risk ratio of fibrinolysis in deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is dubious. ⋯ The second is the occurrence of PE or propagation of the thrombus in patients treated for DVT or recurrence in patients with PE. The PREPIC study demonstrated that in acute VTE, vena cava filters reduced the risk of PE but increased that of DVT and had no effect on survival. The fact that prevention of PE is mainly observed during the short initial period following the diagnosis of an acute VTE event justifies a new randomized study with the use of retrievable filters as an adjuvant to anticoagulation in high risk patients with PE.