title: Safety of anticoagulation in the treatment of venous thromboembolism in patients with haematological malignancies and thrombocytopenia: Report of 5 cases and literature review.
abstract: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is relatively common among patients with haematological malignancies. Management is challenging because many of these patients are also thrombocytopenic and at increased risk of bleeding. Current recommendations regarding the treatment of VTE in thrombocytopenic patients with haematological malignancies are limited as there only few studies evaluating the safety and efficacy of anticoagulation in this population of patient. A literature review on the safety of antithrombotic therapy for treatment or prophylaxis of VTE in patients with haematological malignancies was undertaken. This includes a report on 5 patients with haematological malignancies at our institute who received enoxaparin for treatment of VTE while thrombocytopenic. Unlike previous case series which showed that the use of LMWH (low molecular weight heparin) is safe in this group of patients, major bleeding occurred in 2 patients, and was fatal in one case. More studies are required to evaluate the risk factors and safety of anticoagulation in these patients.
authors.affiliation: Haematology Department, Calvary Mater Hospital, Edith St, Waratah, NSW 2298, Australia. Electronic address: mingsheng.lim@calvarymater.org.au.
authors.forename: Ming Sheng
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Haematology Department, Calvary Mater Hospital, Edith St, Waratah, NSW 2298, Australia; University of Newcastle, Australia; Pathology North Hunter, NSW Pathology, Australia; Hunter Cancer Research Alliance, Newcastle, Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, Australia.
authors.forename: Anoop K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Enjeti
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants
keywords: Anticoagulation; Haematological malignancies; Thrombocytopenia; Venous thromboembolism