Table 1.

Characteristics of studies.

Study author	Country	Design	Subjects	Patients(n) S/C	Age (m, y) S/C	Male n, (%)	Intervention groups S/C	Follow-up	Outcomes
Andreozzi et al., 2015	Italy	RCT	Patients with unprovoked proximal DVT or pulmonary embolism treated with anticoagulant therapy. Age ≥ 18 year	307/308	55.7/55.9	175 (57%)	Sulodexide 500 LSU PO twice daily vs. Placebo	24 months	1. The primary efficacy outcome was recurrent DVT or pulmonary embolism. 2. Secondary efficacy outcomes included distal or superficial vein thrombosis and nonfatal or fatal MI, stroke, or acute ischemia of the lower limbs. 3. Safety outcome was major or clinically relevant nonmajor bleeding.
Cirujeda and Granado, 2006	Spain	RCT	Patients with proximal DVT of the lower limbs treated with anticoagulant therapy. Age ≥ 18 year	75/75	67.7/66.1	92 (61.3%)	Sulodexide 300 LSU PO twice daily vs. Acenocoumarol 2 mg/day	6 months	1. The primary efficacy outcome was recurrent DVT or pulmonary embolism. 2. Safety outcome was possible hemorrhagic episodes
Errichi et al., 2004	Italy	RCT	Patients with DVT treated with anticoagulant therapy.	202/203	53.2/52.2	NR	Sulodexide 500 LSU PO twice daily vs. Placebo	24 months	1. The primary efficacy outcome was recurrent DVT or pulmonary embolism. 2. Secondary efficacy outcomes included distal or superficial vein thrombosis and nonfatal or fatal MI, stroke, or acute ischemia of the lower limbs. 3. Safety outcome was major or clinically relevant nonmajor bleeding.
Luzzi et al., 2014	Italy	PC	Patients with proximal DVT	124/167	47.2/46.4	131 (45.0%)	Sulodexide 500 LSU PO twice daily vs. Placebo	60 months	1.The primary efficacy outcome was recurrent DVT or pulmonary embolism. 2.Safety outcome was possible hemorrhagic episodes

S, sulodexide group; C, control group; PO, per os; NR, not reported.

DVT, deep vein thrombosis; LSU, lipoprotein lipase releasing units.

RCT, prospective randomized controlled trials; PC, prospective non-randomized controlled study.