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Venous thromboembolic disease and cancer

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
A Fennerty
Harrogate District Foundation Trust, Lancaster Park Road, Harrogate HG2 7SX, UK; Anthony.Fennerty{at}hdft.nhs.uk

Venous thromboembolic disease is a common cause of mortality and morbidity in patients with cancer. Patients have a 5–6-fold increase in the risk for a venous thromboembolism (VTE) compared with the general population, increasing to 6–7-fold for some cancers. Prophylaxis for VTE should be considered whenever additional risk factors intervene. About 10% of patients with an idiopathic VTE will harbour an occult cancer. Half of these can probably be detected after a focused history, examination, routine blood tests and a chest x ray. The remaining cases may be diagnosed with an intensive screening protocol. About 60% of patients diagnosed on screening will have early disease, but we do not know whether screening improves the outcome. Evidence suggests that patients with cancer and a VTE should be treated with low-molecular-weight heparin, and treatment continued until the cancer is cured.

Abbreviations: DVT, deep venous thrombosis; LMWH, low-molecular-weight heparin; VTE, venous thromboembolism

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