Heart and lung complications: Assessment and prevention of venous thromboembolism and cardiovascular disease in patients with multiple myeloma

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) and cardiovascular (CV) disease can occur in patients with multiple myeloma. Although VTE and CV disease are separate medical conditions, they can be serious and even life-threatening. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this article are to describe risk factors for cancer-associated VTE, describe the influence of CV disease on patients with multiple myeloma, and review the approaches to VTE and CV disease identification and treatment. METHODS: PubMed and CINAHL ® databases were used to identify literature to describe VTE and CV in patients diagnosed with multiple myeloma. FINDINGS: When present in patients with multiple myeloma, VTE and CV disease can limit patient tolerance for myeloma treatment and, therefore, decrease therapeutic options.