Treatment of catheter-related thrombosis in patients with hematologic malignancies: A Venous thromboEmbolism Network U.S. retrospective cohort study

Introduction: Optimal treatment of catheter-related thrombosis (CRT) is uncertain in patients with hematologic malignancy. We aimed to evaluate the treatment strategies, outcomes, and predictors of recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE) associated with catheter-related thrombosis (CRT) in patients with hematologic malignancy. Methods: We performed a multicenter retrospective cohort study of eight institutions through the Venous thromboEmbolism Network US. Patients with hematologic malignancies with documented CRT were identified using ICD-9 and ICD-10 diagnostic codes. Semi-competing risks proportional hazard regression models were created. Results and conclusions: Of the 663 patients in the cohort, 124 (19%) were treated with anticoagulation alone, 388 (58%) were treated with anticoagulation and catheter removal, 119 (18%) treated with catheter removal only, and 32 (5%) had neither catheter removal nor anticoagulation. 100 (15%) patients experienced a recurrent VTE event. In the 579 patients who had catheter removal, the most common reason for catheter removal was the CRT [392 (68%)]. For subjects who received any anticoagulation (n = 512), total anticoagulation duration was not associated with VTE recurrence [1.000 (0.999–1.002)]. After adjustment patients treated with catheter removal only had an increased risk of VTE recurrence [2.50 (1.24–5.07)] and death [4.96 (2.47–9.97)]. Patients with no treatment had increased risk of death [16.81 (6.22–45.38)] and death after VTE recurrence [27.29 (3.13–238.13)]. In this large, multicenter retrospective cohort, we found significant variability in the treatment of CRT in patients with hematologic malignancy. Treatment without anticoagulation was associated with recurrent VTE.