Ximelagatran for treatment of venous thromboembolism

: Acute venous thromboembolism including asymptomatic and symptomatic pulmonary embolism without respiratory or cardiac failure is currently treated for 6 months, initially with subcutaneous low-molecular-weight heparin followed by oral anticoagulation. The main drawback of oral anticoagulation is caused by severe bleeding complications. Oral Ximelagatran has shown to be as effective and safe for the initial treatment of acute deep venous thrombosis compared to subcutaneous low-molecular-weight heparin followed by oral warfarin over a period of 4 weeks. Currently, oral ximelagatran is investigated versus subcutaneous low-molecular-weight heparin and oral warfarin over 6 months to demonstrate an almost equal efficacy and safety. The study is performed on a double blind and double dummy basis. Six months after oral anticoagulation of patients with acute deep venous thrombosis, recurrent venous thromboembolism may occur in up to 25% within 2 years. Ximelagatran is currently investigated versus placebo to demonstrate a reduced recurrence rate of venous thromboembolism over a period of 18 months.