Nonbacterial Thrombotic Endocarditis in Cancer Patients: Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Treatment
- 1 May 2007
- journal article
- review article
- Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in The Oncologist
- Vol. 12 (5), 518-523
- https://doi.org/10.1634/theoncologist.12-5-518
Abstract
Thrombophilia is a well-described consequence of cancer and its treatment. The pathogenesis of this phenomenon is complex and multifactorial. Nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis (NBTE) is a serious and potentially underdiagnosed manifestation of this prothrombotic state that can cause substantial morbidity in affected patients, most notably recurrent or multiple ischemic cerebrovascular strokes. Diagnosis of NBTE requires a high degree of clinical suspicion as well as the judicious use of two-dimensional echocardiography to document the presence of valvular thrombi. In the absence of contraindications to therapy, treatment consists of systemic anticoagulation, which may ameliorate symptoms and prevent further thromboembolic episodes, as well as control of the underlying malignancy whenever possible. Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.Keywords
This publication has 29 references indexed in Scilit:
- Cancer and venous thromboembolismThe Lancet Oncology, 2005
- Malignancies, Prothrombotic Mutations, and the Risk of Venous ThrombosisJAMA, 2005
- Excess risk of cancer in patients with primary venous thromboembolism: a national, population-based cohort studyBritish Journal of Cancer, 2004
- Venous Thrombosis in Cancer Patients: Insights from the FRONTLINE SurveyThe Oncologist, 2003
- Cancer and Thrombosis: Mechanisms and TreatmentJournal of Thrombosis and Thrombolysis, 2003
- Venous Thromboembolism and Occult MalignancyThrombosis Research, 2001
- Rates of Initial and Recurrent Thromboembolic Disease Among Patients with Malignancy Versus Those without Malignancy: Risk Analysis Using Medicare Claims DataMedicine, 1999
- The Risk of a Diagnosis of Cancer after Primary Deep Venous Thrombosis or Pulmonary EmbolismNew England Journal of Medicine, 1998
- Venous thromboembolism and cancerThe Lancet, 1998
- NONBACTERIAL THROMBOTIC ENDOCARDITISArchives of Internal Medicine, 1936