The treatment of venous thromboembolism in patients with cancer

Abstract

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a frequent complication in cancer patients and represents an important cause of morbidity and mortality. The treatment of VTE complications in cancer patients remains a difficult clinical task. Low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWH) are the cornerstone of VTE treatment in cancer patients, including the treatment of catheter-related thrombosis. LMWH dose adjustment is effective in treating recurrent thrombosis and in patients with bleeding or thrombocytopenia. The duration of treatment is dependent on several factors that need to be individually evaluated. The novel anticoagulants should be investigated more carefully before being routinely implemented in the treatment of cancer-associated VTE. Incidentally detected isolated sub-segmental pulmonary embolism is unlikely to require systematic full-dose anticoagulation. Whether the long-term use of LMWHs has the potential to prolong survival in subgroups of cancer patients requires further investigations.