Venous thromboembolism in chronic lymphocytic leukemia: a Danish nationwide cohort study

Inger Lise Gade, Signe Juul Riddersholm, Ilse Christiansen, Annika Rewes, Mikael Frederiksen, Lisbeth Enggaard, Christian Bjørn Poulsen, Olav Jonas Bergmann, Dorte Balle Gillström, Robert Schou Pedersen, Linda Nielsen, Helle Højmark Eriksen, Christian Torp-Pedersen, Søren Risom Kristensen, Marianne Tang Severinsen

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10 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is associated with inferior survival in cancer patients. The risk of VTE and its effect on survival in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients remains unclear. The present study investigated the impact of patient-related factors, CLL prognostic markers, and CLL treatment on the risk of VTE and assessed overall survival relative to VTE. All patients in the Danish National CLL Registry (2008-2015) were followed from the date of CLL diagnosis to death, VTE, emigration, or administrative censoring. Hazard ratios (HRs) were estimated using Cox models, and second primary cancers and anticoagulation treatment were included as time-varying exposures. During a median follow-up of 2.6 years, 92 VTEs occurred among 3609 CLL patients, corresponding to a total incidence rate of 8.2 VTEs per 1000 person-years (95% confidence interval [CI], 6.7-10.1). A history of VTE or second primary cancer was associated with HRs of VTE of 5.09 (95% CI, 2.82-9.17) and 3.72 (95% CI, 2.15-6.34), respectively, while β2-microglobulin >4 mg/L, unmutated immunoglobulin HV and unfavorable cytogenetics had lower HRs. CLL patients with VTE had marginally higher mortality, which was most pronounced among patients <60 years of age (HR, 7.74; 95% CI, 2.12-28.29). Our findings suggest that markers of unfavorable CLL prognosis contribute to an increased risk of VTE; however, previous VTE or a second primary cancer is more strongly associated with the risk of VTE than any CLL-specific marker. Focusing attention on this preventable complication may improve survival in young CLL patients.

Original languageEnglish
JournalBlood advances
Volume2
Issue number21
Pages (from-to)3025-3034
Number of pages10
ISSN2473-9529
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2018

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