Wel of geen tromboseprofylaxe bij oncologische patiënten gedurende de chemotherapie?

Case description

A 55-year-old patient with locally advanced pancreatic carcinoma will start Folfirinox. Should he get thromboprophylaxis?

Consideration

Patients with malignant disease have increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Several types of malignancy, surgery, chemotherapy and metastasis lead to increased risk. VTE is an underdiagnosed phenomenon and the second cause of death in patients treated with chemotherapy. Therapeutic doses increase the risk of bleeding compared to prophylactic anticoagulant treatment. Even though they are less than perfect, several risk scores are able to identify patients with high risk of VTE. The AVERT and CASSINI trials showed that prophylactic doses of DOACs in cancer patients with high risk of VTE are able to significantly reduce this risk.

Conclusion

Even though there are many unresolved questions, it seems rational to start thromboprophylaxis in patients with aggressive types of cancer, preferably using DOACs, but low molecular weight heparins are possible as well. Risk scores may be helpful when selecting patients.

Conflict of interest and financial support: none declared.