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8.1. Bibliographic strategy results
8.2. Data extraction
8.3. Data analysis
8.4. Discussion
8.5. Recommendations: special cases
HTA Questions |
Studies included |
HTA 1: Treatment of established VTE |
4 non-randomized studies [SCHMIDT2002[J1] ] [ALTSCHULER1990[J2] ] [LEVIN1993] [SCHIFF1994] |
HTA 2: Prophylaxis of VTE in cancer patients undergoing neurosurgery |
4 prospective randomized studies [CERRATO1978] [CONSTANTINI1994] [DICKINSON1998] [MACDONALD2003[J3] ] 4 randomized double-blind studies [MELON1991[J4] ] [NURMOHAMED1996] [AGNELLI1998[J5] ] [GOLDHABER2002[J6] ] 2 meta-analyses [IORO2001] [COLLEN2008] |
HTA 3: Treatment and prophylaxis of VTE |
No study |
HTA 4: Treatment and prophylaxis of VTE |
No study |
HTA 5: Treatment and prophylaxis of VTE |
No study |
[J1]Cette ref n’est pas dans la liste des réréfrence et je ne la trouve pas dans PubMed
[J2]Cette ref n’est pas dans la liste des ref. Je pense que c’est celle-ci pouvez vous confirmer:
Altschuler E, Moosa H, Selker RG, Vertosick FT Jr. The risk and efficacy of anticoagulant therapy in the treatment of thromboembolic complications in patients with primary malignant brain tumors. Neurosurgery. 1990 Jul;27(1):74-6;
[J3]Cette ref n’est pas dans la liste des ref. Je pense que c’est celle-ci pouvez vous confirmer:
MACDONALD2003: Macdonald RL, Amidei C, Baron J, Weir B, Brown F, Erickson RK, Hekmatpanah J, Frim D. Randomized, pilot study of intermittent pneumatic compression devices plus dalteparin versus intermittent pneumatic compression devices plus heparin for prevention of venous thromboembolism in patients undergoing craniotomy. Surg Neurol 2003;59:363-72.
[J4]Cette ref n’est pas dans la liste des réréfrence et je ne la trouve pas dans PubMed
[J5]Cette ref n’est pas dans la liste des ref. Je pense que c’est celle-ci pouvez vous confirmer:
Agnelli G, Piovella F, Buoncristiani P, Severi P, Pini M, D’Angelo A, Beltrametti C, Damiani M, Andrioli GC, Pugliese R, Iorio A, Brambilla G. Enoxaparin plus compression stockings compared with compression stockings alone in the prevention of venous thromboembolism after elective neurosurgery. N Engl J Med. 1998 Jul 9;339(2):80-5.
[J6]Cette ref n’est pas dans la liste des ref. Je pense que c’est celle-ci pouvez vous confirmer:
GOLDHABER2002: Goldhaber SZ, Dunn K, Gerhard-Herman M, Park JK, Black PM. Low rate of venous thromboembolism after craniotomy for brain tumor using multimodality prophylaxis. Chest 2002;122:1933-7.
For thrombocytopenia, pregnancy and renal insufficiency, the literature search retrieved no study.
Data extraction: cliquez pour télécharger
Treatment of established VTE in patients with a brain tumor
Studies |
4 non-randomized studies [SCHMIDT2002] [ALTSCHULER1990] [LEVIN1993] [SCHIFF1994] |
Agreement |
Yes |
Quality of evidence |
Low (observational but consistent) |
Results |
In patients with brain tumors, treatment of VTE with use of anticoagulation yield the same rate of VTE recurrence (0 to 12%) and bleeding (intracerebral bleeding: 0 to 7%) as in other cancer patients without brain tumors. |
Conclusion
The results of anticoagulation for established VTE are the same in patients with and without brain tumors.
Prophylaxis of VTE in cancer patients undergoing neurosurgery: heparins
Studies |
4 prospective randomized studies [CERRATO1978] [CONSTANTINI1994] [DICKINSON1998] [MACDONALD2003] 4 randomized double-blind studies [MELON1991] [NURMOHAMED1996] [AGNELLI1998] [GOLDHABER2002] 2 meta-analyses [IORIO2000] [COLLEN2008] |
Agreement |
Yes |
Quality of evidence |
High |
Results |
For VTE prophylaxis after surgery for brain or spinal tumors in cancer patients: – LMWH and UFH (5000 IU SC/12 h) are associated with the same rates of VTE and bleeding and lead to a 50% reduction in the risk of VTE without an excess of major bleeding but with a two-fold higher rate of minor bleeding. – GCS + IPC have the same efficacy as GCS alone – the reduction of VTE with ECD is about 60% when compared to no prophylaxis, – LMWH are superior to ECD with a reduction of VTE from 20 to 40%, and an increase of minor bleeding (relative risk: 2), with no increase in intracranial bleeding or major bleeding [COLLEN2008]. |
Conclusion
LMWH and UFH have a similar efficacy and safety (in terms of major bleeding and intracranial bleeding) and are superior to no treatment. In this setting, pharmacological prophylaxis should be started postoperatively.
After surgery for brain or spinal tumors, adding LMWH to an intermittent compression device increases the risk of minor bleeding but not the risk of major or intracranial bleeding.[J1]
[J1]ce n’est pas si évident quand on regarde les études concernées [NURMOHAMED1996] [AGNELLI1998] [DICKINSON1998] [GOLDHABER2002] [MACDONALD2003] et les méta-analyses ne semblent pas aborder ce point.
The treatment of VTE in patients with brain tumors varied among the selected studies: UFH +VKA, tinzaparin alone and vena cava filter insertion. Depending on the therapeutic options, therate of recurrence and bleeding varied from 0 to 12% and from 0% to 17%, respectively (intracerebral bleeding 0-7%). These figures appear to be quite similar to those noted in retrospective studies performed with the same drugs in patients with cancer other than brain tumors. In a small prospective non-randomized study assessing tinzaparin, no VTE recurrence and no bleeding were detected [SCHMIDT2002]. So the presence of a brain tumor is not a contraindication to a full anticoagulation provided that there is no other associated bleeding risk. In this setting, the experts prefer to prescribe LMWH that has been shown to be superior to VKA in patients with cancer other than brain tumors.
The studies available concerning the prophylaxis of VTE included in the majority of cases cancer patients undergoing elective intracranial neurosurgery, but also patients undergoing spinal surgery for tumors. In contrast to studies performed in surgical patients with no brain or spinal tumor, timing of prophylaxis varied but it seems reasonable to start anticoagulation after surgery. The duration of VTE prevention was limited to the hospitalization period and no study has been conducted with extended prophylaxis. LMWH and UFH have similar efficacy and safety (in terms of major bleeding and intracranial bleeding) and are superior to no treatment. LMWH are more efficacious than external compression devices and are associated with an increase in minor bleeding but not in major and intracranial bleeding; external compression devices can be prescribed alone in patients with a contraindication to pharmacological prophylaxis.
Severe renal failure has been defined as a creatinine clearance below 30 mL/min. In this case LMWH and fondaparinux are contraindicated. No data have been published on the management of anticoagulation in cancer patients with renal insufficiency. For the treatment of VTE, the working group suggests using UFH followed by early VKA (possible from Day 1) or LMWH adjusted on the basis of anti-Xa level according to each LMWH for the treatment of established VTE. Such monitoring of anticoagulation could be helpful, since non-therapeutic anti-Xa levels are common among medical patients treated with LMWH, especially cancer patients [SALIBA2011]. The pharmacological prophylaxis of VTE in such patients may be considered on a case-by-case basis, knowing that UFH is not contraindicated.
The bleeding risk is correlated with platelet count and is significantly higher when below 50 G/L. In most studies, anticoagulation was withheld from patients with a platelet count of less than 50 G/L and resumed at the scheduled dose when the count was 100 G/L or higher.
For the treatment of VTE, the risk of recurrence is higher than the bleeding risk and the working group chose the cut-off point of 50 G/L for treatment with a full-dose anticoagulant.
Between 30 and 50 G/L, the decision must be based on a case-by-case analysis with a careful evaluation of the benefit-risk ratio. For prophylaxis, the risk of VTE is lower than the bleeding risk and the experts decided to select the cut-off point of 80 G/L.
During pregnancy VKA are contraindicated. So standard treatment of established VTE with long-term LMWH and standard prophylaxis with LMWH or UFH should be implemented (best practice because the judgment is based on experts’ opinion in view of the lack of data).
R1. A brain tumor per se is not a contraindication to anticoagulation for established VTE
Quality of evidence |
Low |
Balance between desirable and undesirable effects |
High bleeding risk to be assessed individually |
Values and preferences |
Based on individual clinical assessment |
Costs (resource allocation) |
Not considered |
Level of recommendation |
Weak |
R2. For the treatment of established VTE in cancer patients with brain tumors we prefer LMWH
Quality of evidence |
Very low |
Balance between desirable and undesirable effects |
High bleeding risk to be assessed individually |
Values and preferences |
This opinion reflects the views of the panel group |
Costs (resource allocation) |
Not considered |
Level of recommendation |
Best practice |
R3. We recommend the use of LMWH or UFH commenced postoperatively for the prevention VTE in cancer patients undergoing neurosurgery
Quality of evidence |
High |
Balance between desirable and undesirable effects |
Favorable |
Values and preferences |
Subcutaneous injection |
Costs (resource allocation) |
In some countries price difference between LMWH and UFH may influence the choice |
Level of recommendation |
Strong |
R4. In the presence of severe renal failure (creatinine clearance <30 mL/min) we suggest using UFH followed by early VKA (possible from Day 1) or LMWH adjusted to anti-Xa level for the treatment of established VTE
Quality of evidence |
Not applicable (no data) |
Balance between desirable and undesirable effects |
Unknown |
Values and preferences |
Not considered |
Costs (resource allocation) |
Not considered |
Level of recommendation |
Best practice |
R5. In patients with severe renal failure (creatinine clearance <30 mL/min), an ECD may be applied, and pharmacological prophylaxis may be considered on a case-by-case basis. In patients with severe renal failure (creatinine clearance <30 mL/min), UFH can be used on a case-by-case basis.
Quality of evidence |
Not applicable (no data) |
Balance between desirable and undesirable effects |
Depending on the level of VTE risk |
Values and preferences |
Not considered |
Costs (resource allocation) |
Not considered |
Level of recommendation |
Best practice |
R6. In cancer patients with thrombocytopenia, full doses of anticoagulant can be used for the treatment of established VTE
if the platelet count is >50 G/L and there is no evidence of bleeding. For patients with a platelet count below 50 G/L, decisions on treatment and dosage should be made on a case-by-case basis with extreme caution.
Quality of evidence |
Not applicable (no data) |
Balance between desirable and undesirable effects |
Depending on bleeding risk vs. VTE risk |
Values and preferences |
Not considered |
Costs (resource allocation) |
Not considered |
Level of recommendation |
Best practice |
R7. In cancer patients with mild thrombocytopenia, platelet count >80 G/L, pharmacological prophylaxis may be used. If the platelet count is below 80 G/L, pharmacological prophylaxis may only be considered on a case-by-case basis and careful monitoring is recommended.
Quality of evidence |
Not applicable (no data) |
Balance between desirable and undesirable effects |
Depending on bleeding risk vs. VTE risk |
Values and preferences |
Not considered |
Costs (resource allocation) |
Not considered |
Level of recommendation |
Best practice |
R8. In pregnant cancer patients, standard treatment for established VTE and standard prophylaxis should be implemented.
Quality of evidence |
No data |
Balance between desirable and undesirable effects |
VKA are contraindicated during pregnancy |
Values and preferences |
Not considered |
Costs (resource allocation) |
Not considered |
Level of recommendation |
Best practice |