Key result
Low-molecular-weight heparin remains the standard of care for cancer-associated venous thromboembolism, while direct oral anticoagulants are emerging as a promising and effective alternative.
Why the study?
Venous thromboembolism is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in cancer patients, making its prevention and treatment challenging in daily practice.
This review highlights the evolving landscape of VTE management in cancer patients, emphasizing the transition from LMWH to DOACs as viable therapeutic options.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Reinforces LMWH as standard for cancer-associated VTE; leaves open definitive DOAC role pending randomized trials.
Venous thromboembolism (VTE) represents a major health problem, especially in cancer patients, who experience a significantly higher incidence of both deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism compared to the general population. Indeed, patients with cancer have a prothrombotic state resulting in both increased expression of procoagulants and suppression of fibrinolytic activity. In addition, VTE increases the morbidity and mortality of these patients. For all these reasons, the prevention and treatment of VTE in cancer setting represent major challenges in daily practice. In general, low-molecular-weight heparin monotherapy is the standard of care for the management of cancer-associated VTE, as Vitamin K antagonists are less effective in this setting. Direct oral anticoagulants offer a potentially promising treatment option for cancer patients with VTE, since recent studies demonstrated their efficacy and safety also in this peculiar setting.
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Citro et al. (2020) conducted a review in Venous thromboembolism in cancer patients. Anticoagulation therapy (LMWH and DOACs) was evaluated. Low-molecular-weight heparin remains the standard of care for cancer-associated venous thromboembolism, while direct oral anticoagulants are emerging as a promising and effective alternative.
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