How long do children need to remain on anti-clotting medications for the treatment of a blood clot?

For many children who have developed DVT/PE with contributing factors identified (in other words, whose DVT/PE did not occur “out of the blue”), the length of treatment with anti-clotting medications can be as short as six weeks, especially if the contributing factors are no longer present, or much less significant, by that time. This was shown in a recent multi-national research study called Kids-DOTT, funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

However, for children whose DVT/PE have no contributing factors identified, or who have had another DVT/PE in the past, or who for other reasons do not fit the features of children who participated in Kids-DOTT, the length of treatment with anti-clotting medications is typically three months.

For children whose DVT/PE had no contributing factors identified, or who have strong and long-lasting risk factors for developing new DVT/PE, or who have had multiple prior DVTs/PEs, the length of treatment may be six to 12 months or even life-long.

Neil A. Goldenberg, MD, PhD

Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine,
Baltimore, MD, USA

Founding Director, Pediatric Thrombosis & Stroke Programs
Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital
St. Petersburg, FL, USA

Updated: September 2024

Download: Blood Clots and Children Resource PDF

Blood Clots in Children

Current News

If You’re Living with Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS), Take Our Survey

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is a complex and often misunderstood autoimmune condition. If you have been diagnosed with APS, we invite…

NBCA Issues a Call to Action at Historic Dinner Recognizing the Nation’s First Blood Clot Prevention Law

The National Blood Clot Alliance (NBCA) issued an urgent call to action for state and federal leaders to advance blood…