title: The incidence of and risk factors for venous thromboembolism (VTE) and bleeding among 1514 patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: implications for VTE prevention.
abstract: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is increasingly diagnosed among individuals with hematologic malignancies. However, the risk of VTE among patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is unclear. We examined the incidence and risk factors for VTE and bleeding among 1514 patients undergoing in-patient HSCT. No protocolized VTE prophylaxis was used. By HSCT day 180, 75 symptomatic VTE occurred in 70 patients (4.6%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.6%-5.8%). Fifty-five (3.6%) were catheter-associated, 11 (0.7%) were non-catheter-associated deep venous thromboses, and 9 (0.6%) were pulmonary emboli. Thirty-four percent of VTE occurred at a platelet count less than 50 x10(9)/L; 13% occurred at a platelet count less than 20 x10(9)/L. In multivariate analysis, VTE was associated with prior VTE (odds ratio [OR], 2.9; 95% CI, 1.3-6.6) and with graft-versus-host disease (GVHD; OR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.4-4.0). Clinically significant bleeding occurred in 230 patients (15.2%; 95% CI, 13.4%-17.1%); 55 patients (3.6%; 95% CI, 2.7%-4.7%) had fatal bleeding. Bleeding was associated with anticoagulation (OR, 3.1; 95% CI, 1.8-5.5), GVHD (OR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.8-3.3), and veno-occlusive disease (OR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.4-3.6). In HSCT patients, VTE is primarily catheter-related and 3-fold less common than clinically significant bleeding. These findings warrant consideration when selecting VTE prophylaxis in HSCT patients.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, USA.
authors.forename: David E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Gerber
authors.forename: Jodi B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Segal
authors.forename: M Yair
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Levy
authors.forename: Joyce
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kane
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Michael B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Streiff
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000009:adverse effects; D002404:Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011292:Premedication; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants