Chemotherapy Induced Thrombosis

Abstract

Chemotherapy is a known independent risk for the development of VTE which is also known to increase the risk of recurrence of VTE in malignancy by fourfolds. Factors that influence the incidence of VTE in chemotherapy are the type, location of the tumor, type of chemotherapy, the presence of agents such as hormonal agents, targeted therapies. Chemotherapy can worsen the pro-thrombotic state by various mechanisms. Various scoring system such as Khorana’s model and Ottawa score has been recommended to predict the risk of VTE with chemotherapy. Low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) has been shown be to effective in VTE prophylaxis in patients with active cancer undergoing chemotherapy. There is however limited evidence currently regarding the use of direct oral anticoagulants in the prophylaxis of cancer-associated thrombosis.

Keywords: Cancer-associated thrombosis, Cancer prophylaxis, Chemotherapy, Chemotherapy associated thrombosis, Direct oral anticoagulants, Khorana’s Model, LMWH in VTE, Ottawa Score, Recurrent VTE with chemotherapy, Thrombosis in malignancy, VTE prophylaxis, Warfarin.