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Use of Anti-coagulants in Cancer Patients with Superficial Thrombophlebitis to Prevent Pulmonary Embolism

Received: 20 September 2020    Accepted: 12 July 2021    Published: 21 July 2021
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Abstract

Superficial thrombophlebitis (STP) is an inflammation of superficial veins with associated venous thrombosis. It is a benign condition usually and can be managed with a conservative approach with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and warm compression. When STP is associated with high-risk medical conditions such as cancer and chemotherapy, fatal complications such as pulmonary embolism (PE) and deep venous thrombosis (DVT) may ensue. The severity of thromboembolic complications of STP as well as the multiple common risk factors between DVT and STP has led to further research interest in exploring the efficacy of anticoagulation treatment in DVT and STP. Traditionally, low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) and warfarin have been used for the treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE), but recently direct oral Anticoagulants (DOACs) have emerged as a potential alternative considering better or equivalent efficacy, safety, and ease of use compared to LMWH and warfarin. A few case reports have described the advancement of STP to PE in cancer patients while on chemotherapy. We report a case of a 56-year old female with colon cancer on chemotherapy who developed PE after two episodes of STP. We recommend that when cancer patients on chemotherapy develop STP, prophylactic use of anti-coagulants should be considered to reduce the risk of serious complications.

Published in World Journal of Medical Case Reports (Volume 2, Issue 3)
DOI 10.11648/j.wjmcr.20210203.12
Page(s) 35-40
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Superficial Thrombophlebitis, Pulmonary Embolism, Chemotherapy, Cancer, Anticoagulant

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Cite This Article
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    Pratikkumar Vekaria, Mansi Satasia, Tejas Raiyani, Rekha Rao, Chandrika Raiyani, et al. (2021). Use of Anti-coagulants in Cancer Patients with Superficial Thrombophlebitis to Prevent Pulmonary Embolism. World Journal of Medical Case Reports, 2(3), 35-40. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wjmcr.20210203.12

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    ACS Style

    Pratikkumar Vekaria; Mansi Satasia; Tejas Raiyani; Rekha Rao; Chandrika Raiyani, et al. Use of Anti-coagulants in Cancer Patients with Superficial Thrombophlebitis to Prevent Pulmonary Embolism. World J. Med. Case Rep. 2021, 2(3), 35-40. doi: 10.11648/j.wjmcr.20210203.12

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    AMA Style

    Pratikkumar Vekaria, Mansi Satasia, Tejas Raiyani, Rekha Rao, Chandrika Raiyani, et al. Use of Anti-coagulants in Cancer Patients with Superficial Thrombophlebitis to Prevent Pulmonary Embolism. World J Med Case Rep. 2021;2(3):35-40. doi: 10.11648/j.wjmcr.20210203.12

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  • @article{10.11648/j.wjmcr.20210203.12,
      author = {Pratikkumar Vekaria and Mansi Satasia and Tejas Raiyani and Rekha Rao and Chandrika Raiyani and Kevin Dan Phillips},
      title = {Use of Anti-coagulants in Cancer Patients with Superficial Thrombophlebitis to Prevent Pulmonary Embolism},
      journal = {World Journal of Medical Case Reports},
      volume = {2},
      number = {3},
      pages = {35-40},
      doi = {10.11648/j.wjmcr.20210203.12},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wjmcr.20210203.12},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.wjmcr.20210203.12},
      abstract = {Superficial thrombophlebitis (STP) is an inflammation of superficial veins with associated venous thrombosis. It is a benign condition usually and can be managed with a conservative approach with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and warm compression. When STP is associated with high-risk medical conditions such as cancer and chemotherapy, fatal complications such as pulmonary embolism (PE) and deep venous thrombosis (DVT) may ensue. The severity of thromboembolic complications of STP as well as the multiple common risk factors between DVT and STP has led to further research interest in exploring the efficacy of anticoagulation treatment in DVT and STP. Traditionally, low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) and warfarin have been used for the treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE), but recently direct oral Anticoagulants (DOACs) have emerged as a potential alternative considering better or equivalent efficacy, safety, and ease of use compared to LMWH and warfarin. A few case reports have described the advancement of STP to PE in cancer patients while on chemotherapy. We report a case of a 56-year old female with colon cancer on chemotherapy who developed PE after two episodes of STP. We recommend that when cancer patients on chemotherapy develop STP, prophylactic use of anti-coagulants should be considered to reduce the risk of serious complications.},
     year = {2021}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Use of Anti-coagulants in Cancer Patients with Superficial Thrombophlebitis to Prevent Pulmonary Embolism
    AU  - Pratikkumar Vekaria
    AU  - Mansi Satasia
    AU  - Tejas Raiyani
    AU  - Rekha Rao
    AU  - Chandrika Raiyani
    AU  - Kevin Dan Phillips
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    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wjmcr.20210203.12
    DO  - 10.11648/j.wjmcr.20210203.12
    T2  - World Journal of Medical Case Reports
    JF  - World Journal of Medical Case Reports
    JO  - World Journal of Medical Case Reports
    SP  - 35
    EP  - 40
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2994-726X
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wjmcr.20210203.12
    AB  - Superficial thrombophlebitis (STP) is an inflammation of superficial veins with associated venous thrombosis. It is a benign condition usually and can be managed with a conservative approach with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and warm compression. When STP is associated with high-risk medical conditions such as cancer and chemotherapy, fatal complications such as pulmonary embolism (PE) and deep venous thrombosis (DVT) may ensue. The severity of thromboembolic complications of STP as well as the multiple common risk factors between DVT and STP has led to further research interest in exploring the efficacy of anticoagulation treatment in DVT and STP. Traditionally, low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) and warfarin have been used for the treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE), but recently direct oral Anticoagulants (DOACs) have emerged as a potential alternative considering better or equivalent efficacy, safety, and ease of use compared to LMWH and warfarin. A few case reports have described the advancement of STP to PE in cancer patients while on chemotherapy. We report a case of a 56-year old female with colon cancer on chemotherapy who developed PE after two episodes of STP. We recommend that when cancer patients on chemotherapy develop STP, prophylactic use of anti-coagulants should be considered to reduce the risk of serious complications.
    VL  - 2
    IS  - 3
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Redmond Regional Medical Center, Rome, United States

  • Department of Dermatology, Byramjee Jeejabhoy Medical College, Ahmedabad, India

  • Redmond Regional Medical Center, Rome, United States

  • Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, United States

  • Redmond Regional Medical Center, Rome, United States

  • Redmond Regional Medical Center, Rome, United States

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