Review supports LMWH for cancer-linked incidental PE

Review supports LMWH for cancer-linked incidental PE

(HealthDay)—Cancer-associated incidental pulmonary embolism (IPE) should be treated with low molecular weight heparins (LMWHs), according to a review published online Oct. 15 in the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis.

Tom van der Hulle, M.D., from Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands, and colleagues conducted a systematic literature review on cancer-associated IPE management. They pooled data on incidence rates of symptomatic recurrent VTE, major hemorrhage, and mortality during a six-month follow-up of 926 cancer with IPE from 11 cohorts.

The researchers found that the weighted pooled six-month risks were 5.8, 4.7, and 37 percent for recurrent VTE, major hemorrhage, and mortality, respectively. The risk of VTE recurrence was comparable under LMWHs and vitamin-K antagonists (VKAs) (6.2 versus 6.4 percent; hazard ratio [HR], 0.9; 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 0.3 to 3.1), compared with 12 percent in untreated patients (HR, 2.6; 95 percent CI, 0.91 to 7.3). Major hemorrhage risk was higher under VKA than LMWH (13 versus 3.9 percent; HR, 3.9; 95 percent CI, 1.6 to 10). In patients with subsegmental IPE and those with a more proximally localized IPE, the VTE recurrence risk was comparable (HR, 1.1; 95 percent CI, 0.50 to 2.4).

"These results support the current recommendation to anticoagulate cancer-associated IPE with LMWH and argue against different management of subsegmental IPE," the authors write.

More information: Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Copyright © 2015 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Citation: Review supports LMWH for cancer-linked incidental PE (2015, October 29) retrieved 28 March 2024 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2015-10-lmwh-cancer-linked-incidental-pe.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

Explore further

COPD tied to increased risk of ischemic, hemorrhagic stroke

3 shares

Feedback to editors