Rate of endothelialization in venous thrombi: an experimental study
K. Tanaka, A. E. Hirst and L. L. Smith
Little is known about the rate of endothelialization of venous thrombi.
This study was performed to determine the time required for complete
endothelialization of the head of standardized thrombi in medium-sized
veins (4 to 5 mm) in dogs. This information was sought to help determine
the optimal duration of anticoagulation therapy in patients with acute
venous thrombi. While endothelial growth was observed as early as three
days, endothelialization of the head of the thrombus was not complete until
14 days in seven of eight venous thrombi. These experimental findings
suggest that therapeutic anticoagulation should be continued for at least
ten to 14 days if maximum benefit is to be achieved.
