Abstract
Background
Oral anticoagulants present multiple practical problems for patients undergoing chemotherapy. To assess the practice implications of anticoagulation therapy, a review was carried out.
Methods
A review of all patients with cancer treated with warfarin for venous thromboembolism (VTE) over a 1-year-period was carried out. Adverse events and therapeutic efficacy were assessed and the extra volume of work involved in monitoring was quantified.
Results
Fifty-five patients with cancer and VTE were treated with warfarin from 07/04 to 06/05. Twenty-one invasive interventions required disruption of anticoagulation. There were eight admissions for haemorrhage. Nine patients died while on warfarin. A total of 1,379 coagulation tests were performed. There were 382 extra dayward visits attributable to warfarin monitoring. On treatment, 13 patients (24%) were changed from warfarin therapy to low molecular weight heparin (LMWH).
Conclusions
This study identifies and quantifies the extra resource utilization with warfarin therapy in patients undergoing chemotherapy.
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Oral presentation at the Irish Society of Medical Oncology (ISMO) Annual Meeting February 2006. Poster Presentation at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual meeting June 2006.
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Morris, P.G., Davenport, C., O’Dwyer, D. et al. Practical problems and resource implications with the use of warfarin for venous thromboembolism in patients with cancer. Ir J Med Sci 176, 165–168 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-007-0064-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-007-0064-4