EHA Guidelines on Management of Antithrombotic Treatments in Thrombocytopenic Patients With Cancer

The ever increasing availability of effective cancer treatments has resulted in improved clinical outcomes and longer survival. A consequence of the latter, however, is an increasing number of cancer patients exposed to risk factors for cardiovascular disease, who may also experience  thrombotic events resulting from the cancer itself and, more often, from certain chemotherapy treatments. Hence, cancer patients are increasingly likely  to require antithrombotic medications for prophylaxis, acute treatment or secondary prevention of thromboembolic disease.  Subjects with cancer requiring antithrombotic medications often develop thrombocytopenia due to the cancer itself and/or chemotherapy treatments.

In view of these issues, which affect a rapidly growing population, the Scientific Working Group on Bleeding and Thrombosis of the European Haematology Association (EHA) in collaboration with the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) have developed management guidelines that will help clinicians in their endeavours to effectively and safely manage patients with cancer and thrombocytopenia.