Cancer related venous thromboembolism - prophylaxis and therapy

Vasa. 2014 Jul;43(4):245-51. doi: 10.1024/0301-1526/a000359.

Abstract

Cancer is a highly thrombophilic entity leading to a high rate of symptomatic and even asymptomatic venous thromboembolic (VTE) events in patients suffering from malignant disease. As VTE events have impact on survival and can be reduced significantly by anticoagulant treatment, guidelines on prophylaxis of these events by means of anticoagulation exist from various societies. Purpose of this review is to give a concise overview of current possibilities for prophylaxis and also for the therapy of VTE events in cancer patients.

Tumorerkrankungen sind äußerst thrombophil und verursachen häufig symptomatische und auch asymptomatische venöse thrombotische Geschehen. Da diese Einfluss auf das Überleben der Patienten haben und durch Antikoagulation in ihrer Häufigkeit deutlich reduziert werden können, haben verschiedene Gesellschaften Empfehlungen zur Prophylaxe herausgegeben. Ziel dieses Reviews ist es, einen kurzen Überblick über aktuelle Möglichkeiten der Prophylaxe und der Therapie der tumorassoziierten venösen Thromboembolie zu geben.

Keywords: Cancer; low molecular weight heparin; pulmonary embolism; venous thromboembolism.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anticoagulants / adverse effects
  • Anticoagulants / therapeutic use*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / adverse effects*
  • Blood Coagulation / drug effects
  • Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight / adverse effects
  • Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms / blood
  • Neoplasms / complications
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Neoplasms / mortality
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Risk Assessment
  • Risk Factors
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Venous Thromboembolism / blood
  • Venous Thromboembolism / etiology
  • Venous Thromboembolism / mortality
  • Venous Thromboembolism / prevention & control*

Substances

  • Anticoagulants
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight