Treatment of venous thromboembolism in cancer patients.
Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a common complication in patients with malignant disease. Its management remains challenging because patients with a cancer-associated thrombosis are at higher risk of recurrent VTE than are noncancer subjects with thrombosis and also have a greater risk for anticoagulant-associated bleeding complications while receiving therapy to prevent recurrent VTE. Recently, anticoagulant strategies based on the administration of low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) rather than vitamin K antagonists for up to 6 days to prevent recurrent VTE have been evaluated. These studies indicate that LMWH is associated with a lower rate for recurrent VTE and similar rates of bleeding when compared with oral anticoagulant therapy. Chronic exposure to LMWH may also prolong survival of cancer patients.
Petralia
Gloria A
GA
Centre for Surgical Science, Barts and The London Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, United Kingdom. petralia@tri-london.ac.uk
Kakkar
Ajay K
AK
D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality; D012008:Recurrence; D015996:Survival Rate; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*
D000925:Anticoagulants; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight