A randomized clinical trial of high-intensity warfarin vs. conventional antithrombotic therapy for the prevention of recurrent thrombosis in patients with the antiphospholipid syndrome (WAPS).
BACKGROUND
The optimal intensity of oral anticoagulation for the prevention of recurrent thrombosis in patients with antiphospholipid antibody syndrome is uncertain. Retrospective studies show that only high-intensity oral anticoagulation [target international normalized ratio (INR) >3.0] is effective but a recent randomized clinical trial comparing high (INR range 3.0-4.0) vs. moderate (INR 2.0-3.0) intensities of anticoagulation failed to confirm this assumption.


METHODS
We conducted a randomized trial in which 109 patients with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) and previous thrombosis were given either high-intensity warfarin (INR range 3.0-4.5, 54 patients) or standard antithrombotic therapy (warfarin, INR range 2.0-3.0 in 52 patients or aspirin alone, 100 mg day(-1) in three patients) to determine whether intensive anticoagulation is superior to standard treatment in preventing symptomatic thromboembolism without increasing the bleeding risk.


RESULTS
The 109 patients enrolled in the trial were followed up for a median time of 3.6 years. Mean INR during follow-up was 3.2 (SD 0.6) in the high-intensity warfarin group and 2.5 (SD 0.3) (P < 0.0001) in the conventional treatment patients given warfarin. Recurrent thrombosis was observed in six of 54 patients (11.1%) assigned to receive high-intensity warfarin and in three of 55 patients (5.5%) assigned to receive conventional treatment [hazard ratio for the high intensity group, 1.97; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.49-7.89]. Major and minor bleeding occurred in 15 patients (two major) (27.8%) assigned to receive high-intensity warfarin and eight (three major) (14.6%) assigned to receive conventional treatment (hazard ratio 2.18; 95% CI 0.92-5.15).


CONCLUSIONS
High-intensity warfarin was not superior to standard treatment in preventing recurrent thrombosis in patients with APS and was associated with an increased rate of minor hemorrhagic complications.
Finazzi
G
G
The Ospedali Riuniti, Bergamo, Italy.
Marchioli
R
R
Brancaccio
V
V
Schinco
P
P
Wisloff
F
F
Musial
J
J
Baudo
F
F
Berrettini
M
M
Testa
S
S
D'Angelo
A
A
Tognoni
G
G
Barbui
T
T
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D017153:Antibodies, Anticardiolipin / Q000737:chemistry; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016736:Antiphospholipid Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D019934:International Normalized Ratio; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012008:Recurrence; D012306:Risk; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000188:drug therapy; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014859:Warfarin / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D017153:Antibodies, Anticardiolipin; D000925:Anticoagulants; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D014859:Warfarin; D001241:Aspirin