Evaluation of risk factors for venous thromboembolism in Chinese women with epithelial ovarian cancer.

OBJECTIVE

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a life-threatening complication that often occurs in ovarian tumors. However, the risk factors for VTE are still undetermined.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed VTE occurrence and its potential risk factors in 254 Chinese patients with ovarian tumor at Fudan University Cancer Hospital from July 2007 to June 2011.

RESULTS

The VTE incidence was 7.1% (13/183) in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), and no VTE was found in ovarian borderline or benign tumor. D-dimer levels were significantly higher in EOC than in ovarian benign and borderline tumors. Furthermore, D-dimer levels increased with the advancement of EOC stages. Correlation analysis suggested that D-dimer levels were well correlated with platelet counting (PLT), prothrombin time (PT), white blood cell counting (WBC), cancer antigen (CA) 125, and CA153. Univariate logistic regression analysis found that D-dimer levels greater than 788 μg/L, PLT levels greater than 261 × 10(9)/L, PT greater than 11.7 seconds, CA125 greater than 760 U/mL, and ascites greater than 1500 mL are risk factors for VTE in EOC. Moreover, multivariate analysis grouped primary EOC, low differentiated grade, D-dimer greater than 788 μg/L, PT greater than 11.7 seconds, and CA125 greater than 760 U/mL as prediction factors for VTE.

CONCLUSIONS

In addition to D-dimer and ascites, high levels of PLT, PT, and CA125, which are highly correlated with D-dimer, are independent risk factors for VTE.