Aggressive lymphoma subtype is a risk factor for venous thrombosis. Development of lymphoma - specific venous thrombosis prediction models

Comprehensive evaluation of genetic and acquired thrombophilia markers for an individualized prediction of clinical thrombosis in patients with lymphoma and multiple myeloma

Patients diagnosed with lymphoma or multiple myeloma are at elevated risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Optimum risk stratification and effective thromboprophylaxis can only be achieved through the development of a multiple-specific risk score that successfully captures all aspects of the heterogeneous prothrombotic environment existing in these patients. Our aim was to identify risk factors for thrombosis and suggest an improved tool combining clinical data, thrombo-inflammatory biomarkers and genetic (Thrombo inCode® test) variables for predicting thrombotic risk in patients with lymphoma and multiple myeloma. A prospective longitudinal study was conducted on newly-diagnosed lymphoma and multiple myeloma patients who presented at our institution between February 2020 and January 2021. The study included 47 patients with lymphoma and 16 patients with multiple myeloma. We performed a follow-up of 1 year or until September 2021. The incidence of venous thrombosis and associated risk factors were analysed, including the genetic Thrombo inCode® test. Khorana and ThroLy scores for lymphoma patients and IMPEDE VTE score for myeloma patients were calculated. At a median follow-up of 9.1 months, VTE incidence was 9.5% (6/63), with 4 and 2 patients with lymphoma and myeloma who developed the events, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that the incidence of thrombosis was significantly higher in patients with ECOG ≥ 2 and prior immobility. Median factor VIII levels were significantly higher in patients with thrombosis (with increased values in all of them). Moreover, there was a trend in genetic variant rs5985 (factor XIII) as a protective factor, and a trend to higher thrombotic risk in patients with factor V Leiden, rs2232698 variant (serpinA10), low total protein S activity, elevated D-dimer, aggressive lymphoma and treatment with dexamethasone. The results of our study demonstrate promise for the potential use of widely accessible markers to increase precision in risk prediction for VTE in patients with lymphoma and multiple myeloma, particularly ECOG ≥ 2, immobility and higher factor VIII levels, as well as lymphoma aggressiveness, treatment with dexamethasone and the haemostatic biomarkers D-dimer and total protein S activity. Additionally, genetic variants factor V Leiden, serpinA10 rs2232698 and factor XIII-A Val34Leu warrant further investigation for use in the research setting.

Thrombosis risk prediction in lymphoma patients: A multi-institutional, retrospective model development and validation study

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) poses a significant risk to cancer patients receiving systemic therapy. The generalizability of pan-cancer models to lymphomas is limited. Currently, there are no reliable risk prediction models for thrombosis in patients with lymphoma. Our objective was to create a risk assessment model (RAM) specifically for lymphomas. We performed a retrospective cohort study to develop Fine and Gray sub-distribution hazard model for VTE and pulmonary embolism (PE)/ lower extremity deep vein thrombosis (LE-DVT) respectively in adult lymphoma patients from the Veterans Affairs national healthcare system (VA). External validations were performed at the Harris Health System (HHS) and the MD Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC). Time-dependent c-statistic and calibration curves were used to assess discrimination and fit. There were 10,313 (VA), 854 (HHS), and 1858 (MDACC) patients in the derivation and validation cohorts with diverse baseline. At 6 months, the VTE incidence was 5.8% (VA), 8.2% (HHS), and 8.8% (MDACC), respectively. The corresponding estimates for PE/LE-DVT were 3.9% (VA), 4.5% (HHS), and 3.7% (MDACC), respectively. The variables in the final RAM included lymphoma histology, body mass index, therapy type, recent hospitalization, history of VTE, history of paralysis/immobilization, and time to treatment initiation. The RAM had c-statistics of 0.68 in the derivation and 0.69 and 0.72 in the two external validation cohorts. The two models achieved a clear differentiation in risk stratification in each cohort. Our findings suggest that easy-to-implement, clinical-based model could be used to predict personalized VTE risk for lymphoma patients.

Incidence of venous thromboembolism and predictive ability of age-adjusted international prognostic index for prediction of venous thromboembolism in Asian patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is one of the malignancies at high risk for the development of venous thromboembolism (VTE). We aimed to evaluate the incidence of VTE and the predictive ability of the age-adjusted international prognostic index (aaIPI) for the prediction of VTE among DLBCL patients. This was a retrospective cohort study including adult patients with newly diagnosed DLBCL. Differences in VTE occurrence within one year after diagnosis of DLBCL were estimated across aaIPI groups using the Kaplan-Meier model, Cox's model, and Gray's model with deaths regarded as competing events. Five hundred and ninety-one newly diagnosed DLBCL patients with a median age of 58 (range 16-93) years were included in this study. At a median follow-up time of 365 (range 2-365) days, VTE events were objectively diagnosed in 32 patients, giving a one-year cumulative incidence of VTE of 5.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.7-7.6). Patients with aaIPI ≥ 2 had a significantly higher risk of VTE than patients with aaIPI < 2 (hazard ratio, 3.5; 95% CI, 1.6-7.8; p = 0.001 based on Cox's model and sub-distribution hazard ratio, 3.0; 95% CI, 1.3-6.7; p = 0.007 using Gray's model). The C-statistic of aaIPI was 0.65 (95% CI, 0.58-0.72). We demonstrated that the incidence of VTE in Asian DLBCL patients was not uncommon. The aaIPI was effective in determining the risk of VTE in DLBCL patients, even when including death as a competing event. aaIPI may be helpful in identifying patients at higher risk of VTE in DLBCL patients.

Standardization of risk prediction model reporting in cancer-associated thrombosis: Communication from the ISTH SSC subcommittee on hemostasis and malignancy

Since the development of the Khorana score to predict risk of cancer-associated venous thromboembolism (VTE), many modified and de novo risk prediction models (RPMs) have been proposed. Comparison of the prognostic performance across models requires comprehensive reporting and standardized methods for model development, validation and evaluation. To improve the standardization of RPM reporting, the Transparent Reporting of a multivariable prediction model for Individual Prognosis or Diagnosis (TRIPOD) tool was published in 2015. To better understand the quality of reporting and development of RPMs for cancer-associated VTE, we performed a literature search of published RPMs and assessed each model using the TRIPOD checklist. Our results yielded 29 RPMs for which 30 items were evaluated. There was a non-significant (p = 0.15) improvement in reporting of the 30 items in the post-TRIPOD era (81%) versus the pre-TRIPOD era (75%). Of seven items (title, sample size, missing data handling, baseline demographics, methods and results for model performance, and supplemental resources) with the lowest reporting in the pre-TRIPOD era (<70%), there was an average improvement of 22% in the post-TRIPOD era. Only two of the 22 studies published in the post-TRIPOD era acknowledged compliance with TRIPOD. Informed by the results of this assessment, the Scientific and Standardization Committee (SSC) Subcommittee on Hemostasis & Malignancy of the International Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis (ISTH) advocates for standardization of four key elements of RPMs for cancer-associated VTE: (1) inclusion of the TRIPOD checklist, (2) clear definition of the derivation population, with justification of sample size, (3) clear definition of predictors, and (4) external validation prior to implementation.

Immune activation and inflammatory biomarkers as predictors of venous thromboembolism in lymphoma patients

Background

Lymphomas are characterized by elevated synthesis of inflammatory soluble mediators that could trigger the development of venous thromboembolism (VTE). However, data on the relationship between specific immune dysregulation and VTE occurrence in patients with lymphoma are scarce. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the association between inflammatory markers and the risk of VTE development in patients with lymphoma.

Methods

The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), total protein (TP), and albumin were assessed in 706 patients with newly diagnosed or relapsed lymphoma. Data were collected for all VTE events, while the diagnosis of VTE was established objectively based on radiographic studies. ROC (receiver operating characteristic) curve analysis was performed to define the optimal cutoff values for predicting VTE.

Results

The majority of patients was diagnosed with aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma (58.8%) and had advanced stage disease (59.9%). Sixty-nine patients (9.8%) developed VTE. The NLR, PLR, ESR, CRP, and LDH were significantly higher in the patients with lymphoma with VTE, whereas the TP and albumin were significantly lower in those patients. Using the univariate regression analysis, the NLR, PLR, TP, albumin, LDH, and CRP were prognostic factors for VTE development. In the multivariate regression model, the NLR and CRP were independent prognostic factors for VTE development. ROC curve analysis demonstrated acceptable specificity and sensitivity of the parameters: NLR, PLR, and CRP for predicting VTE.

Conclusion

Inflammatory dysregulation plays an important role in VTE development in patients with lymphoma. Widely accessible, simple inflammatory parameters can classify patients with lymphoma at risk of VTE development.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12959-022-00381-3.

Venous-thromboembolism and associated health care utilization in elderly patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma

BACKGROUND

Patients with lymphoma have an increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). The authors examined the risk of VTE and subsequent health care utilization in elderly patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL).

METHODS

A total of 5537 DLBCL patients ≥66 years old enrolled in Medicare from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registry and a noncancer control group of Medicare beneficiaries (n = 5537) were identified. Cumulative incidence function to examine the risk of VTE 12 months after DLBCL diagnosis was used. Fine and Gray method was used to examine the risk factors associated with VTE risk in multivariable models. Total number of hospitalizations, outpatient visits, and Medicare spending were compared in DLBCL patients with and without VTE.

RESULTS

VTE was diagnosed in 8.3% DLBCL patients and 1.5% controls, yielding an 8.6-fold higher risk of VTE in DLBCL in adjusted analysis (95% confidence interval [CI], 6.62-11.20; P < .001). Multivariable regression analysis showed that precancer VTE history was associated with an increased risk of developing VTE after a DLBCL diagnosis (hazard ratio [HR], 5.39; 95% CI, 4.39-6.63), and Asian individuals were associated with a lower risk (HR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.29-1.00). Patients newly diagnosed with VTE after lymphoma had a 1.7-fold higher rate of hospitalization and a 1.2-fold higher rate of outpatient visits compared to those without, resulting in excess Medicare spending of $22,208 in the first year after DLBCL diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Elderly patients with DLBCL have an elevated risk of VTE resulting in excess health care utilization. VTE history before DLBCL was associated with increased risk of post-DLBCL VTE, and Asian individuals were associated with a lower risk of VTE.

The Application of the ThroLy Risk Assessment Model to Predict Venous Thromboembolism in Patients with Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

Background

Patients with aggressive lymphomas are at higher risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE). ThroLy is a risk assessment model (RAM) derived to predict the occurrence of VTE in various types of lymphomas. In this study, we assess the clinical application of ThroLy RAM in a unified group of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).

Methods

Hospital databases were searched for patients with DLBCL and radiologically-confirmed VTE. Items in the ThroLy RAM, including prior VTE, reduced mobility, obesity, extranodal disease, mediastinal involvement, neutropenia and hemoglobin < 10.0 g/dL, were retrospectively reviewed.

Results

A total of 524 patients, median age 49 (range: 18-90) years were included. Patients had high disease burden; 57.3% with stage III/IV and 34.0% with bulky disease. All were treated on unified guidelines; 63 (12.0%) had primary refractory disease. Venous thromboembolic events were reported in 71 (13.5%) patients. Among 121 patients with high (> 3) ThroLy score, 22.3% developed VTE compared to 8.4% and 12.4% in those with low and intermediate risk scores, respectively (P = .014). Simplifying the ThroLy model into two risk groups; high-risk (score ≥ 3) and low risk (score < 3) can still segregate patients; VTE developed in 44 (17.2%) high-risk patients (n = 256) compared to 27 (10.1%) in the low-risk group (n = 268), P = .038. Neutropenia, a component of the ThroLy, was encountered in only 14 (2.7%) patients.

Conclusions

ThroLy RAM can identify patients with DLBCL at high risk for VTE. Model can be modified by dividing patients into two, rather than three risk groups, and further simplified by omitting neutropenia.

Venous thromboembolic complications in lymphoma patients

Lymphomas represent a heterogeneous group of malignant hematological diseases with high risk for development of venous thromboembolic complications (VTE). Consequently, VTE significantly impacts morbidity and mortality in these patients. Another concern is the financial burden of the healthcare system caused by diagnostic and therapeutic procedures of cancer-associated thrombosis (CAT). The complex biology of lymphoma, in conjunction with patient and treatment related risk factors for the development of VTE, results in a procoagulant hemostatic dysregulation. Considering the incidence of VTE in patients with lymphoma, there is an emerging demand for both reliable risks assessment model (RAM) for prediction of VTE, as well as for effective VTE prophylaxis and treatment. The clinical course of patients with malignant diseases is accompanied by a wide range of potential treatment complications, making the task of prevention and treatment of VTE even more challenging. In recent years, great progress has been achieved in understanding the pathophysiological mechanisms of thrombotic complications, while the significant number of randomized controlled trials (RCT) have provided standards of prophylaxis and treatment of VTE complications in patients with malignancy. In comparison to previous recommendations and guidelines for CAT, the use of direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) has been gradually approaching low molecular weight heparins (LMWH) in terms of efficacy and safety profile in these indications. This systematic review is focused on the latest pathophysiological advances, risk factors assessment, prophylactic and therapeutic recommendations and guidelines concerning VTE in patients with lymphoma.