Direct oral anticoagulants in oncology in clinical praxis

Abstract

Relation between oncological diseases and venous thrombo-embolism (VTE) is well known for almost 2 centuries. In 1823 Bouillaud assumed by three patients with tumor and recent deep vein thrombosis (DVT), that peripheral edema of lower limbs emerges as a result of „obturation“ of veins by „fibrinous coagulum“ (caillot fibrineux), which was induced by oncological disease. French physician Armand Trousseau wrote about this relation in his book „Phlegmasia alba dolens” again in the year 1865. Many studies were developed in times of Bouillaud a Trousseau, which just confirmed existence of relation between tumor and VTE. Oncological disease presents a significant risk factor of formation of VTE. Recent references favorising the use of light molecular weight heparin (LMWH) in long-term anticoagulation therapy of patients with cancer. Recently we have just few clinical data about efficiency and safety of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in oncological patients, however many meta-analysis of clinical studies has shown benefit of therapy with DOACs towards conventional therapy.