Abstract
Arterial emboli are largely a reflection of cardiac disease. Thalidomide is an antiangiogenic drug used in cancer therapy. Venous thrombosis incidence increased during treatment with thalidomide. We reported arterial thrombosis in two cases with multiple myeloma implemented in thalidomide treatment. Standard emergency intervention was applied. In the postoperative period, enoxiparine was given to all the patients. Warfarin treatment was started in the level of INR 2-2,5. ASA with a dose of 100 mg/day was added to the treatment. In conclusion, this side effect of the use of thalidomide should be taken into consideration while doing examinations with respect to the etiology in arterial thromboembolism and because of this vascular complication that threatens life; we suggest stopping the thalidomide treatment.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Escudier B, Lassau N, Leborgne S, Angevin E, Laplanche A (2002) Thalidomide and venous thrombosis. Ann Intern Med 136(9):711
Rus C, Bazzan M, Palumbo A, Bringhen S, Boccadoro M (2004) Thalidomide in front line treatment in multiple myeloma: serious risk of venous thromboembolism and evidence for thromboprophylaxis. J Thromb Haemost 2:2063–2065
McBride WG (1961) Thalidomide and congenital abnormalities. Lancet 2:1358
Lenz W (1962) Thalidomide and congenital abnormalities. Lancet 1:45
Hattori Y, Iguchi T (2004) Thalidomide for the treatment of multiple myeloma. Congenit Anom 44:125–136
D’Amato RJ, Loughnan MS, Flynn E, Folkman J (1994) Thalidomide is an inhibitor of angiogenesis. Proc Natl Acad Sci 91:4082–4085
Silingardi M, Iotti M, Trenti C, Salvarani C, Iori I (2004) Thalidomide, deep venous thrombosis and vasculitis. J Thromb Haemost 2:2062–2063
Zangari M, Anaissie E, Barlogie B, Badros A, Desikan R, Gopal AV, Morris C, Toor A, Siegel E, Fink L, Tricot G (2001) Increased risk of deep-vein thrombosis in patients with multiple myeloma receiving thalidomide and chemotherapy. Blood 98(5):1614–1615
Bennett CL, Schumock GT, Desai AA, Kwaan HC, Dennis W, Raisch DW, Newlin R, Stadler W (2002) Thalidomide-associated deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Am J Med 113(7):603–606
Lenz RA, Saver J (2004) Venous sinus thrombosis in a patient taking thalidomide. Cerebrovasc Dis 18(2):175–177
Jego C, Barbou F, Laurent P, Gisserot O, Cellarier G, Bonal J, Bouchiat C, Landais C, de Jaureguiberry JP, Dussarat GV (2003) Left atrial thrombus in multiple myeloma treated with thalidomide. Arch Mal Coeur Vaiss 96(10):1006–1010
Schütt P, Ebeling P, Buttkereit U, Brandhorst D, Opalka B, Hoiczyk M, Flasshove M, Hense J, Bojko P, Metz K, Moritz T, Seeber S, Nowrousian MR (2005) Thalidomide in combination with vincristine, epirubicin and dexamethasone (VED) for previously untreated patients with multiple myeloma. Eur J Haematol 74:40–46
Scarpace S, Hahn T, Roy H, Brown K, Paplham P, Chanan-Khan A, van Besien K, McCarthy Jr P (2005) Arterial thrombosis in four patients treated with thalidomide. Leuk Lymphoma 46(2):239–242
Bowcock SJ, Rassam SMB, Ward SM, Turner JT, Laffan M (2002) Thromboembolism in patients on thalidomide for myeloma. Hematology 7(1):51–53
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Goz, M., Eren, M.N. & Cakir, O. Arterial thrombosis and thalidomide. J Thromb Thrombolysis 25, 224–226 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11239-007-0057-1
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11239-007-0057-1