Thromboembolic Events in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Clinical and Applied Thrombosis/Hemostasis 2014 December 18 [Epub ahead of print] [Link]

Koksal D, Safak O, Ozcan A, Agackiran Y, Erturk H, Findik G.

Abstract

Aim

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) increases the risk of thromboembolic events (TEEs). In this retrospective study, we aimed to determine the rate of TEEs in MPM and investigate its relationship with the presence of thrombocytosis, the disease stage, and the tumor histopathology.

Methods

The study included 178 patients who were histopathologically diagnosed as MPM between the years January 2008 and June 2014.

Results

The mean age was 58.7 ± 11.8 years, and the median follow-up time was 8 months. Seventy-one patients (39.9%) had thrombocytosis (>350 × 103/mL). In total, 14 (7.9%) TEEs were identified: 6 (3.4%) pulmonary thromboembolism, 6 (3.4%) deep venous thrombosis, and 2 (1.1%) myocardial infarctions. Although 5 (2.8%) of the TEEs preceded the diagnosis of MPM, 1 (0.6%) occurred simultaneously with the diagnosis of MPM and 8 (4.5%) followed the diagnosis of MPM. Thromboembolic event rates were not statistically different based on the presence of thrombocytosis (P = .51), disease stage (P = .14), and histopathology (P = .38).

Conclusion

The rate of TEEs was 7.9%. Presence of thrombocytosis, disease stage, and histopathology did not affect the incidence of TEEs.