PRESERVE Study Demonstrates Safety and Efficacy of IVC Filters to Treat VTE

February 23, 2023—The Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) and the Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) jointly announced the publication of a study that demonstrated that inferior vena cava (IVC) filters are safe and effective for the treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE), preventing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) from developing into pulmonary embolism (PE).

The findings of the Predicting the Safety and Effectiveness of Inferior Vena Cava Filters (PRESERVE) trial—a joint effort of SIR and SVS—were published online ahead of print by Matthew S. Johnson, MD, et al in both the Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology and the Journal of Vascular Surgery: Venous and Lymphatic Disorders.

Dr. Johnson and David L. Gillespie, MD, are Coprincipal Investigators of PRESERVE. Dr. Johnson is an interventional radiologist and professor of radiology and surgery at Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis, Indiana. Dr. Gillespie is a vascular surgeon at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Brockton, Massachusetts.

According to SIR and SVS, PRESERVE is an FDA-directed multicenter, prospective, open-label, nonrandomized trial that studied the safety and efficacy of IVC filters from six manufacturers.

The study was conducted at 54 sites in the United States between October 10, 2015, and March 31, 2019. During that time, filters were implanted in 1,421 patients, of which 1,019 patients had an existing DVT or PE.

The investigators found that IVC filters were effective in helping to prevent PEs in patients experiencing a DVT where anticoagulation medicines failed or were not an option for the patient. Approximately half of the patients in the study had their filters removed within 3 months of placement without complication or recurrence of DVT or PE, reported the investigators.

“The question shouldn’t be only ‘should we place a filter?’ but ‘how should we offer comprehensive filter-inclusive care of patients with venous blood clots, comprised of a detailed patient evaluation, a plan for retrieval after placement, and frequent follow up with evaluation for filter removal or replacement?’” commented Dr. Johnson in the press release. “PRESERVE showed what questions we should ask as clinicians: ‘does this person continue to require protection against PE, and, in light of changing clinical status and available therapies, is the current filter needed?’ and then make an informed decision on how to continue care.”

Dr. Gillespie explained in the press release, “DVTs and PEs are a significant cause of death worldwide and understanding fully how tools like IVC filters can be used to prevent the progression of a DVT into a PE allows physicians to safely treat patients at risk of death from VTE.”

Dr. Gillespie continued, “Now that the study is complete, we now have a roadmap for better filter utilization. We need to solidify a clearer set of practice guidelines for venous thromboembolic disease, based on its symptoms, location, and complications. Further studies will focus on how the different manifestations of venous thromboembolic disease may benefit from filter-inclusive care.”

SIR and SVS noted that PRESERVE is the largest prospective study investigating the real-world patient outcomes of IVC filter use.

“This trial represents an important step in collaborating across specialties to benefit the health and safety of our patients,” stated SIR President Parag J. Patel, MD, in the press release. “Thanks to the work of Drs. Johnson and Gillespie and all the investigators and patients involved in the trial, we now have higher quality evidence to support appropriate utilization and management of IVC filters in patients with venous thromboembolic disease.”

Michael C. Dalsing, MD, President of SVS, added, “Congratulations to Dr. Gillespie, Dr. Johnson, and their many colleagues for shepherding this large collaborative multispecialty, multicenter clinical trial to completion. This highly impactful study provides the real-world evidence needed when recommending IVC filter placement to protect our patients from a potentially lethal disease and when to remove that filter after it has accomplished the desired effect. It is a stellar example of collaboration across specialties for the betterment of patient care.”