Background and objectives: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) occurs in 20-30% of patients with malignant glioma per year of survival. We tested the efficacy of long-term dalteparin low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) for prevention of VTE in these patients.
Patients/methods: Adults with newly diagnosed malignant glioma were randomized to receive dalteparin 5000 anti-Xa units or placebo, both subcutaneously once daily for 6 months starting within 4 weeks of surgery. Treatment continued for up to 12 months. The primary outcome was the cumulative risk of VTE over 6 months. The target sample size was 512 patients. Events were adjudicated by a committee unaware of treatment.
Results: The trial began in 2002 and closed in May 2006 because of expiration of study medication. Ninety-nine patients were randomized to LMWH and 87 to placebo. Twenty-two patients developed VTE in the first 6 months: nine in the LMWH group and 13 in the placebo group [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.51, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.19-1.4, P = 0.29]. At 6 months, there were three major bleeds on LMWH and none on placebo; at 12 months, 5 (5.1%) major bleeds on LMWH and 1 (1.2%) on placebo occurred (HR = 4.2, 95% CI: 0.48-36, P = 0.22). All major bleeds were intracranial and occurred while on study medication. The 12-month mortality rates were 47.8% for LMWH and 45.4% for placebo (HR = 1.2, 95% CI: 0.73-2.0, P = 0.48).
Conclusions: Trends suggesting reduced VTE and increased intracranial bleeding were seen in the LMWH thromboprophylaxis group. The role of long-term anticoagulant thromboprophylaxis in patients with brain tumors remains uncertain.
© 2010 International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis.