title: Prophylaxis of central venous catheter-related thrombosis with minidose warfarin: analysis of its use in 427 cancer patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the past few years, several studies have been performed to evaluate thrombosis prophylaxis with warfarin in cancer patients with central venous catheters (CVC), but the analysis of these studies does not allow firm conclusions to be drawn.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four hundred and twenty-seven cancer patients were evaluated. Each received warfarin at a dose of 1 mg/daily as prophylaxis, starting the day after CVC positioning until its removal.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The catheters were monitored for a mean of 168 days (range 22-706). There were 9 thrombotic events (1.8%). Overall, International Normalised Ratio (INR) elevation occurred in 55 (12.8%) patients. Bleeding was observed in 15 (3.5%) patients, 10 of whom had elevated INR levels. Of these, all were treated with continuous-infusion 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU)-based regimens.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Minidose warfarin can protect from clinical thrombosis, but can induce an alteration in INR values and/or haemorrhagic symptoms in patients being treated with 5-FU-based regimens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Istituto Clinico Humanitas, Rozzano, Milan, Italy. massimo.magagnoli@humanitas.it
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Magagnoli
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Masci
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Castagna
authors.forename: Paolo Andrea
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Zucali
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Morenghi
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pedicini
authors.forename: Armando
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Santoro
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014859:Warfarin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D014859:Warfarin