Deep Vein Thrombosis in Severe Motor and Intellectual Disabilities Patients and Its Treatment by Anticoagulants of Warfarin Versus Edoxaban

Objective: Patients with severe motor and intellectual disabilities (SMID) often develop complications, including paralysis of the extremities due to abnormal muscular tonicity. Furthermore, the incidence of sudden death, which may be caused by pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE), is approximately 4.2%. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is attracting attention as an embolic source. In this study, DVT was confirmed in SMID patients by lower extremity venous ultrasound. The oral anticoagulant, warfarin, and novel oral anticoagulant, edoxaban tosilate hydrate, were administered, and their efficacies and safeties were evaluated. Materials and Methods: DVT patients were randomly allocated to warfarin and edoxaban groups. The frequency of hemorrhagic events and incidence of adverse events were investigated to evaluate efficacy and safety. Results: DVT was detected in 14 (8.4%) out of 167 patients. Four (0.067/person-month) hemorrhagic events occurred in the warfarin group from subcutaneous hemorrhage due to bruises caused by postural changes. Three (0.042/person-month) events occurred in the edoxaban group due to nasal hemorrhage caused by tracheal aspiration. There was no significant difference (p=0.5383) between groups. Conclusion: No significant differences were observed in hemorrhagic events between SMID patients with DVT treated with warfarin and edoxaban.