Evaluation of primary venous thromboembolism prophylaxis in hospitalized patients with primary brain tumors or secondary brain metastases.

purposeHospitalized patients with cancer have high rates of venous thromboembolism (VTE) and often receive prophylactic anticoagulation. However, in patients with primary brain tumors or secondary brain metastases, the increased risk of intracranial hemorrhage must be carefully considered. The purpose of this study is to describe the rates of VTE and bleeding in hospitalized patients with primary brain tumors and metastases with and without prophylactic anticoagulation.

methodsIn this retrospective, single-center study, adult patients with primary or secondary brain tumors, admitted to the hospital and without a contraindication to prophylactic anticoagulation, were identified. Patients were stratified via adequate prophylaxis, defined as an administration of a prophylaxic dose of anticoagulation for ≥80% of days admitted to the hospital versus inadequate VTE prophylaxis, defined as an administration of a prophylactic dose of anticoagulation for <80% of days admitted to the hospital.

resultsOf the 2908 admissions meeting inclusion criteria, 492 (17%) received adequate VTE prophylaxis and 2416 (83%) received inadequate VTE prophylaxis. Of the 538 patients with high bleed risk cancers, defined as melanoma, renal cell carcinoma, thyroid cancer, choriocarcinoma, and hepatocellular cancer, 493 (92%) of patients received inadequate VTE prophylaxis, and only 45 (8%) received adequate VTE prophylaxis. In the entire cohort, the rate of VTE events during hospitalization was 2% in the adequate VTE prophylaxis group versus 9% in the inadequate VTE prophylaxis group (p < 0.001). Major bleeding events also occurred less frequently in the cohort receiving adequate VTE prophylaxis (1%) compared to inadequate VTE prophylaxis (8%) (p < 0.001). In-hospital mortality was similar between both groups, with a rate of 4% in patients receiving adequate VTE prophylaxis and 7% in patients receiving inadequate VTE prophylaxis (p = 0.051). Of patients who died in the hospital, 9% had a cause of death related to bleeding or thrombosis, all in the cohort receiving inadequate VTE prophylaxis compared to 0% in the adequate group.

conclusionPatients with primary brain tumors or secondary brain metastases receiving adequate VTE prophylaxis had a numerically lower rate of VTE events and major bleeding events overall during hospitalization compared to patients receiving inadequate VTE prophylaxis. VTE prophylaxis in hospitalized patients with low bleeding risk metastases and primary brain tumors appears to be safe and effective; however, more data is needed in patients with high bleeding risk metastases due to the low numbers of patients with adequate VTE prophylaxis in this cohort.