abstract: Cochrane Review - Anticoagulation for the initial treatment of venous thromboembolism in patients with cancer.

BACKGROUND:

Compared to patients without cancer, patients with cancer who receive anticoagulant treatment for venous thromboembolism are more likely to develop recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE).

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS:

LMWH (low molecular weight heparin)  is possibly superior to UFH (unfractionated heparin) in the initial treatment of VTE in patients with cancer. Additional trials focusing on patient important outcomes will further inform the questions addressed in this review.