Long Term Low Molecular Weight Heparin Anticoagulant Therapy Modulates Thrombin Generation and D-dimer in Patients with Cancer and Venous Thromboembolism

ABSTRACTWe enrolled 62 consecutive patients with advanced stage cancers and venous thromboembolism (VTE), prospectively followed until 1 year. All patients received 6 month low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) therapy. We evaluated thrombin generation (TG) and D-dimer levels at different time points, to determine whether they were sensitive to LMWH and explore a possible association with VTE recurrence, bleeding, and overall survival. During LMWH, levels of TG and D-dimer significantly dropped. No VTE recurrences occurred, one patient had cancer-related intestinal hemorrhage. LMWH treatment was effective in controlling patient hypercoagulation. No VTE recurrences were detected. High D-dimer concentration was an independent predictor of poor survival.