Inclusion Criteria:  All outpatients with first, acute (within 2 weeks), symptomatic, objectively confirmed distal DVT Compliance to the scheduled follow up plan  Exclusion Criteria:  Age < 18 years or > 90 years Any absolute contraindication to anticoagulant treatment Pregnancy or breast-feeding Serum creatinine > 180 mmol/L or creatinine clearance ≤30 ml/min Liver disease associated with coagulopathy and high risk of bleeding Clinically suspected or confirmed pulmonary embolism Ipsilateral or contralateral proximal DVT Any indication for long-term anticoagulant treatment Inability or refusal to provide informed consent Enrolled in another clinical trial simultaneously