Men more at risk of recurrent blood clots - study

LONDON, July 28 (Reuters) Men are more likely than women to suffer from potentially fatal recurrent blood clots after they stop treatment with anti-clotting drugs, researchers said today.

An analysis of previous studies involving both men and women treated for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism, which occurs when a clot dislodges to the lung, indicated men were more at risk.

''Our analysis showed that men have about a 50 percent higher risk than women of recurrent thrombosis,'' said Dr Simon McRae, of Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woodville, Australia.

''The cause of the heightened risk in male patients is unclear,'' he added in the study published in The Lancet medical journal.

DVT, or a blood clot in the veins of the leg or thigh, can be caused by periods of inactivity such as sitting during long-haul flights. It has also been called ''economy class syndrome''.

The blood clots can also result from an injury, surgery or some medical conditions. Being overweight and taking birth control pills may also raise the risk of DVT.

McRae and his team studied the rate of recurrence in the 5,416 people in the 15 studies included in the analysis after they had stopped treatment.

The researchers called for further studies to support their results. If their findings are confirmed, they believe the difference in blood clot recurrence between the sexes should be considered when doctors decide how long to keep patients on treatment.

Reuters DKA DB0857