The API-CALF Study: Apixaban to Treat Calf Vein Thrombosis

Summary

Isolated distal DVT (iDDVT) is the most frequent clinical presentation of VTE and is associated with a significant morbidity and risks of long-term complications. Data from clinical trials highlighted that patients with iDDVT might require some level of AC treatment. However, the optimal anticoagulant intensity is uncertain, and it is plausible that the best benefit/risk ratio for AC might be achieved with lower intensity doses rather than therapeutic doses. The principal research question of the Apixaban to treat calf vein thrombosis (API-CALF) study is to determine whether, after a conventional course of 7 days of Apixaban 10mg BID, Apixaban 2.5mg BID (experimental arm) is non inferior to Apixaban 5 mg BID (standard arm) in preventing VTE recurrence and bleeding in patients with iDDVT. Patients will be treated with Apixaban for a total of 3 months. In that perspective we will conduct an international multicentre open-label assessor-blinded study

Timeline

Start

2022-09-01

Primary completion

2026-08-31

Completion

2027-08-31

Publications

• Results Galanaud JP, Bosson JL, Quere I. Risk factors and early outcomes of patients with symptomatic distal vs. proximal deep-vein thrombosis. Curr Opin Pulm Med. 2011 Sep;17(5):387-91. doi: 10.1097/MCP.0b013e328349a9e3.
• Results Schellong SM. Distal DVT: worth diagnosing? Yes. J Thromb Haemost. 2007 Jul;5 Suppl 1:51-4. doi: 10.1111/j.1538-7836.2007.02490.x.
• Results Righini M, Galanaud JP, Guenneguez H, Brisot D, Diard A, Faisse P, Barrellier MT, Hamel-Desnos C, Jurus C, Pichot O, Martin M, Mazzolai L, Choquenet C, Accassat S, Robert-Ebadi H, Carrier M, Le Gal G, Mermilllod B, Laroche JP, Bounameaux H, Perrier A, Kahn SR, Quere I. Anticoagulant therapy for symptomatic calf deep vein thrombosis (CACTUS): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Lancet Haematol. 2016 Dec;3(12):e556-e562. doi: 10.1016/S2352-3026(16)30131-4. Epub 2016 Nov 8.
• Results Galanaud JP, Sevestre-Pietri MA, Bosson JL, Laroche JP, Righini M, Brisot D, Boge G, van Kien AK, Gattolliat O, Bettarel-Binon C, Gris JC, Genty C, Quere I; OPTIMEV-SFMV Investigators. Comparative study on risk factors and early outcome of symptomatic distal versus proximal deep vein thrombosis: results from the OPTIMEV study. Thromb Haemost. 2009 Sep;102(3):493-500. doi: 10.1160/TH09-01-0053.
• Results Johnson SA, Stevens SM, Woller SC, Lake E, Donadini M, Cheng J, Labarere J, Douketis JD. Risk of deep vein thrombosis following a single negative whole-leg compression ultrasound: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA. 2010 Feb 3;303(5):438-45. doi: 10.1001/jama.2010.43.
• Results Righini M, Bounameaux H. Clinical relevance of distal deep vein thrombosis. Curr Opin Pulm Med. 2008 Sep;14(5):408-13. doi: 10.1097/MCP.0b013e32830460ea.
• Results Palareti G, Cosmi B, Lessiani G, Rodorigo G, Guazzaloca G, Brusi C, Valdre L, Conti E, Sartori M, Legnani C. Evolution of untreated calf deep-vein thrombosis in high risk symptomatic outpatients: the blind, prospective CALTHRO study. Thromb Haemost. 2010 Nov;104(5):1063-70. doi: 10.1160/TH10-06-0351. Epub 2010 Aug 5.
• Results Bernardi E, Camporese G, Buller HR, Siragusa S, Imberti D, Berchio A, Ghirarduzzi A, Verlato F, Anastasio R, Prati C, Piccioli A, Pesavento R, Bova C, Maltempi P, Zanatta N, Cogo A, Cappelli R, Bucherini E, Cuppini S, Noventa F, Prandoni P; Erasmus Study Group. Serial 2-point ultrasonography plus D-dimer vs whole-leg color-coded Doppler ultrasonography for diagnosing suspected symptomatic deep vein thrombosis: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2008 Oct 8;300(14):1653-9. doi: 10.1001/jama.300.14.1653.
• Results Gibson NS, Schellong SM, Kheir DY, Beyer-Westendorf J, Gallus AS, McRae S, Schutgens RE, Piovella F, Gerdes VE, Buller HR. Safety and sensitivity of two ultrasound strategies in patients with clinically suspected deep venous thrombosis: a prospective management study. J Thromb Haemost. 2009 Dec;7(12):2035-41. doi: 10.1111/j.1538-7836.2009.03635.x. Epub 2009 Oct 8.
• Results Bates SM, Jaeschke R, Stevens SM, Goodacre S, Wells PS, Stevenson MD, Kearon C, Schunemann HJ, Crowther M, Pauker SG, Makdissi R, Guyatt GH. Diagnosis of DVT: Antithrombotic Therapy and Prevention of Thrombosis, 9th ed: American College of Chest Physicians Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines. Chest. 2012 Feb;141(2 Suppl):e351S-e418S. doi: 10.1378/chest.11-2299.
• Results Galanaud JP, Sevestre MA, Genty C, Pernod G, Quere I, Bosson JL. Is it useful to also image the asymptomatic leg in patients with suspected deep vein thrombosis?: comment. J Thromb Haemost. 2015 Nov;13(11):2127-30. doi: 10.1111/jth.13123. Epub 2015 Sep 30. No abstract available.
• Results Palareti G. How I treat isolated distal deep vein thrombosis (IDDVT). Blood. 2014 Mar 20;123(12):1802-9. doi: 10.1182/blood-2013-10-512616. Epub 2014 Jan 28.
• Results Palareti G, Schellong S. Isolated distal deep vein thrombosis: what we know and what we are doing. J Thromb Haemost. 2012 Jan;10(1):11-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1538-7836.2011.04564.x.
• Results Righini M. Is it worth diagnosing and treating distal deep vein thrombosis? No. J Thromb Haemost. 2007 Jul;5 Suppl 1:55-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1538-7836.2007.02468.x.
• Results Masuda EM, Kistner RL, Musikasinthorn C, Liquido F, Geling O, He Q. The controversy of managing calf vein thrombosis. J Vasc Surg. 2012 Feb;55(2):550-61. doi: 10.1016/j.jvs.2011.05.092. Epub 2011 Oct 26.
• Results Lohr JM, Fellner AN. Isolated calf vein thrombosis should be treated with anticoagulation. Dis Mon. 2010 Oct;56(10):590-600. doi: 10.1016/j.disamonth.2010.06.010. No abstract available.
• Results Masuda EM, Kistner RL. The case for managing calf vein thrombi with duplex surveillance and selective anticoagulation. Dis Mon. 2010 Oct;56(10):601-13. doi: 10.1016/j.disamonth.2010.06.011. No abstract available.
• Results Agnelli G, Buller HR, Cohen A, Curto M, Gallus AS, Johnson M, Masiukiewicz U, Pak R, Thompson J, Raskob GE, Weitz JI; AMPLIFY Investigators. Oral apixaban for the treatment of acute venous thromboembolism. N Engl J Med. 2013 Aug 29;369(9):799-808. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1302507. Epub 2013 Jul 1.
• Results Bauersachs RM, Herold J. Oral Anticoagulation in the Elderly and Frail. Hamostaseologie. 2020 Feb;40(1):74-83. doi: 10.1055/s-0040-1701476. Epub 2020 Jan 30.
• Results Schulman S, Kearon C, Kakkar AK, Schellong S, Eriksson H, Baanstra D, Kvamme AM, Friedman J, Mismetti P, Goldhaber SZ; RE-MEDY Trial Investigators; RE-SONATE Trial Investigators. Extended use of dabigatran, warfarin, or placebo in venous thromboembolism. N Engl J Med. 2013 Feb 21;368(8):709-18. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1113697.
• Results Hokusai-VTE Investigators; Buller HR, Decousus H, Grosso MA, Mercuri M, Middeldorp S, Prins MH, Raskob GE, Schellong SM, Schwocho L, Segers A, Shi M, Verhamme P, Wells P. Edoxaban versus warfarin for the treatment of symptomatic venous thromboembolism. N Engl J Med. 2013 Oct 10;369(15):1406-15. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1306638. Epub 2013 Aug 31.
• Results EINSTEIN-PE Investigators; Buller HR, Prins MH, Lensin AW, Decousus H, Jacobson BF, Minar E, Chlumsky J, Verhamme P, Wells P, Agnelli G, Cohen A, Berkowitz SD, Bounameaux H, Davidson BL, Misselwitz F, Gallus AS, Raskob GE, Schellong S, Segers A. Oral rivaroxaban for the treatment of symptomatic pulmonary embolism. N Engl J Med. 2012 Apr 5;366(14):1287-97. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1113572. Epub 2012 Mar 26.
• Results Kearon C, Akl EA, Ornelas J, Blaivas A, Jimenez D, Bounameaux H, Huisman M, King CS, Morris TA, Sood N, Stevens SM, Vintch JRE, Wells P, Woller SC, Moores L. Antithrombotic Therapy for VTE Disease: CHEST Guideline and Expert Panel Report. Chest. 2016 Feb;149(2):315-352. doi: 10.1016/j.chest.2015.11.026. Epub 2016 Jan 7.
• Results Ortel TL, Neumann I, Ageno W, Beyth R, Clark NP, Cuker A, Hutten BA, Jaff MR, Manja V, Schulman S, Thurston C, Vedantham S, Verhamme P, Witt DM, D Florez I, Izcovich A, Nieuwlaat R, Ross S, J Schunemann H, Wiercioch W, Zhang Y, Zhang Y. American Society of Hematology 2020 guidelines for management of venous thromboembolism: treatment of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Blood Adv. 2020 Oct 13;4(19):4693-4738. doi: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2020001830.
• Results Palareti G, Agnelli G, Imberti D, Moia M, Ageno W, Pistelli R, Rossi R, Verso M; MASTER Investigators. Do Italian vascular centers look for isolated calf deep vein thrombosis? Analysis of isolated calf deep vein thromboses included in the ''Master'' Registry. Int Angiol. 2008 Dec;27(6):482-8.
• Results Galanaud JP, Trujillo-Santos J, Bikdeli B, Di Micco P, Bortoluzzi C, Bertoletti L, Pedrajas JM, Ballaz A, Alfonso J, Monreal M; RIETE Investigators. Management of isolated distal deep-vein thrombosis with direct oral anticoagulants in the RIETE registry. J Thromb Thrombolysis. 2021 Aug;52(2):532-541. doi: 10.1007/s11239-020-02347-6. Epub 2020 Nov 28.
• Results Hull R, Delmore T, Genton E, Hirsh J, Gent M, Sackett D, McLoughlin D, Armstrong P. Warfarin sodium versus low-dose heparin in the long-term treatment of venous thrombosis. N Engl J Med. 1979 Oct 18;301(16):855-8. doi: 10.1056/NEJM197910183011602.
• Results Decousus H, Prandoni P, Mismetti P, Bauersachs RM, Boda Z, Brenner B, Laporte S, Matyas L, Middeldorp S, Sokurenko G, Leizorovicz A; CALISTO Study Group. Fondaparinux for the treatment of superficial-vein thrombosis in the legs. N Engl J Med. 2010 Sep 23;363(13):1222-32. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa0912072.
• Results Beyer-Westendorf J, Schellong SM, Gerlach H, Rabe E, Weitz JI, Jersemann K, Sahin K, Bauersachs R; SURPRISE investigators. Prevention of thromboembolic complications in patients with superficial-vein thrombosis given rivaroxaban or fondaparinux: the open-label, randomised, non-inferiority SURPRISE phase 3b trial. Lancet Haematol. 2017 Mar;4(3):e105-e113. doi: 10.1016/S2352-3026(17)30014-5. Epub 2017 Feb 16.
• Results Quere I, Elias A, Maufus M, Elias M, Sevestre MA, Galanaud JP, Bosson JL, Bura-Riviere A, Jurus C, Lacroix P, Zuily S, Diard A, Wahl D, Bertoletti L, Brisot D, Frappe P, Gillet JL, Ouvry P, Pernod G. [Unresolved questions on venous thromboembolic disease. Consensus statement of the French Society for Vascular Medicine (SFMV)]. J Med Vasc. 2019 Feb;44(1):e1-e47. doi: 10.1016/j.jdmv.2018.12.178. Epub 2019 Feb 2. No abstract available. French.
• Results Galanaud JP, Sevestre MA, Pernod G, Kahn SR, Genty C, Terrisse H, Brisot D, Gillet JL, Quere I, Bosson JL. Long-term risk of venous thromboembolism recurrence after isolated superficial vein thrombosis. J Thromb Haemost. 2017 Jun;15(6):1123-1131. doi: 10.1111/jth.13679. Epub 2017 May 5.

Drugs

Indications