CAVA (Ultrasound-Accelerated Catheter-Directed Thrombolysis on Preventing Post-Thrombotic Syndrome) Trial: Long-Term Follow-Up Results

Pascale Notten, Andre A. E. A. de Smet, Lidwine W. Tick, Marlene H. W. van de Poel, Otmar R. M. Wikkeling, Louis-Jean Vleming, Ad Koster, Kon-Siong G. Jie, Esther M. G. Jacobs, Harm P. Ebben, Michiel Coppens, Hugo ten Cate, Cees H. A. Wittens, Arina J. ten Cate-Hoek*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The CAVA (Ultrasound-Accelerated Catheter-Directed Thrombolysis Versus Anticoagulation for the Prevention of Post-Thrombotic Syndrome) trial did not show a reduction of post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) after additional ultrasound-accelerated catheter-directed thrombolysis in patients with acute iliofemoral deep vein thrombosis at 1-year follow-up. This prespecified analysis of the CAVA trial aimed to determine the impact of additional thrombolysis on outcomes of PTS at long-term follow-up.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients aged 18 to 85 years with a first-time acute iliofemoral deep vein thrombosis were included and randomly assigned (1:1) to either standard treatment plus ultrasound-accelerated catheter-directed thrombolysis or standard treatment alone. The primary outcome was the proportion of PTS (Villalta score >= 5 on 2 occasions >= 3 months apart or venous ulceration) at the final follow-up visit. Additionally, PTS according to the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) consensus definition was assessed to allow external comparability. Major bleedings were the main safety outcome. At a median follow-up of 39.0 months (interquartile range, 23.3-63.8), 120 patients (79.8%) participated in the final follow-up visit: 62 from the intervention group and 58 from the standard treatment group. PTS developed in 19 (30.6%) versus 26 (44.8%) patients, respectively (odds ratio [OR], 0.54; 95% CI, 0.26 to 1.15 [P=0.11]), with an absolute difference between groups of -14.2% (95% CI, -32.0% to 4.8%). Using the ISTH consensus definition, a significant reduction in PTS was observed (29 [46.8%] versus 40 [69.0%]) (OR, 0.40; 95% CI, 0.19-0.84 [P=0.01]) with an absolute difference between groups of -22.2% (95% CI, -39.8% to -2.8%). No new major bleedings occurred following the 12-month follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS: The impact of additional ultrasound-accelerated catheter-directed thrombolysis on the prevention of PTS was found to increase with time. Although this study was limited by its sample size, the overall findings indicate a reduction of mild PTS without impact on quality of life.

Original languageEnglish
Article number018973
Number of pages17
JournalJournal of the American Heart Association
Volume10
Issue number11
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jun 2021

Keywords

  • catheter-directed thrombolysis
  • Iliofemoral deep vein thrombosis
  • long-term follow-up
  • post-thrombotic syndrome
  • quality of life
  • QUALITY-OF-LIFE
  • NONINVASIVE VENOUS EXAMINATIONS
  • DEEP-VEIN THROMBOSIS
  • CLINICAL INVESTIGATIONS
  • 1ST EPISODE
  • VALIDATION
  • DISEASE
  • LEG
  • DETERMINANTS
  • TRANSLATION

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