Premium
Venous thromboembolic events in glioblastoma patients: An epidemiological study
Author(s) -
Eisele Amanda,
Seystahl Katharina,
Rushing Elisabeth J.,
Roth Patrick,
Le Rhun Emilie,
Weller Michael,
Gramatzki Dorothee
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
european journal of neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.881
H-Index - 124
eISSN - 1468-1331
pISSN - 1351-5101
DOI - 10.1111/ene.15404
Subject(s) - medicine , proportional hazards model , cohort , cancer , bevacizumab , complication , disease , surgery , chemotherapy
Background and purpose Venous thromboembolic events (VTEs) are a major complication in cancer patients, and therefore, also in brain cancer patients, anticoagulants are considered appropriate in the treatment of VTEs. Methods Frequency, risk factors, and treatment of VTEs, as well as associated complications, were assessed in a population‐based cohort of glioblastoma patients in the Canton of Zurich, Switzerland. Correlations between clinical data and survival were retrospectively analyzed using the log‐rank test and Cox regression models. Results Four hundred fourteen glioblastoma patients with isocitrate dehydrogenase wild‐type status were identified. VTEs were documented in 65 patients (15.7%). Median time from tumor diagnosis to the occurrence of a VTE was 1.8 months, and 27 patients were diagnosed with VTEs postoperatively (within 35 days; 42.2%). History of a prior VTE was more common in patients who developed VTEs than in those who did not ( p = 0.004). Bevacizumab treatment at any time during the disease course was not associated with occurrence of VTEs ( p = 0.593). Most patients with VTEs ( n = 61, 93.8%) were treated with therapeutic anticoagulation. Complications occurred in 14 patients (23.0%), mainly intracranial hemorrhages ( n = 7, 11.5%). Overall survival did not differ between patients diagnosed with VTEs and those who had no VTE ( p = 0.139). Tumor progression was the major cause of death ( n = 283, 90.7%), and only three patients (1.0%) died in association with acute VTEs. Conclusions Venous thromboembolic events occurred early in the disease course, suggesting that the implementation of primary venous thromboembolism prophylaxis during first‐line chemoradiotherapy could be explored in a randomized setting.