Outcome of cancer-associated venous thromboembolism is more favorable among patients with hematologic malignancies than in those with solid tumors. Scientific Publication

Background: The natural history of patients with hematologic cancer and venous thromboembolism (VTE) has not been consistently evaluated. We aimed to compare the rates of symptomatic recurrent VTE, major bleeding or death during anticoagulant therapy in patients with VTE associated to hematologic vs. solid cancers.

Methods: Consecutive patients with active cancer recruited in RIETE were evaluated. Their baseline characteristics, treatments and outcomes during the course of anticoagulation were compared. Univariate and multivariate competing-risk analysis were performed.

Results: As of December 2020, 16,694 patients with cancer and VTE were recruited. Of these, 1,062 (6.4%) had hematologic cancers. Hematologic patients were less likely to initially present with pulmonary embolism (48% vs. 63%) and more likely with upper-extremity deep vein thrombosis (25% vs. 18%).

They also were more likely to have severe thrombocytopenia at baseline (5.6% vs. 0.7%) or to receive chemotherapy (67% vs. 41%). During the course of anticoagulation (median, 150 vs. 127 days), 1,071 patients (6.4%) developed VTE recurrences, 806 (4.8%) suffered major bleeding and 4,136 (24.8%) died. Patients with hematologic cancers had lower rates of recurrent VTE (rate ratio [RR]: 0.73; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.56-0.95), major bleeding (RR: 0.72; 95%CI: 0.53-0.98) or all-cause death (RR: 0.49; 95%CI: 0.41-0.57) than those with solid cancers. Patients with multiple myeloma showed the best outcomes.

Conclusions: Patients with hematologic cancers, particularly multiple myeloma, and VTE had better outcomes than those with solid cancers. These findings are relevant for the interpretation of previous clinical trials and the design of future studies.

CITATION  Thromb Haemost.  2022 Sep;122(9):1594-1602.  doi: 10.1055/a-1777-4006.  Epub 2022 Feb 21