INTRODUCTION Long-term anticoagulant treatment with adjusted doses of vitamin K antagonists is highly effective in preventing recurrent events after a first episode of unprovoked Venous ThromboEmbolism (VTE), even if the optimal duration of this therapy is still uncertain. Since the risk of recurrency is greatest in the first year after the initial thrombotic episode and gradually diminishes thereafter, the benefit of an extended course of anticoagulant treatment may be offset over time by the persisting risk of clinically important bleeding.