“Blood thinners are an effective tool for preventing vein blood clots in people with cancer. The fact they may also prevent artery clots in eligible patients with pancreatic cancer should encourage their use in that population," says Dr. Yan XuPeople with cancer are often at higher risk of blood clots in their veins and arteries. Researchers from The Ottawa Hospital previously found that low doses of blood thinner could dramatically reduce their risk of vein blood clots. 

Blood thinners are now recommended for people with cancer at higher risk of these clots, which is about half of those receiving chemotherapy. Despite the benefits, blood thinners are underused in this population. 

A team led by Drs. Yan Xu and Caroline Mallity wanted to see if blood thinners could also prevent artery clots (such as heart attacks, strokes or leg artery clots) among people with cancer, which might further encourage their use. Their systematic review and meta-analysis of 9,875 patients published in European Heart Journal - Cardiovascular Pharmacotherapy found that blood thinners appeared to reduce the risk of arterial clots among patients with pancreatic cancer without an increase in bleeding. 

While they did not seem to prevent artery clots in other cancer types, future studies will aim to identify subgroups of patients who may benefit.

“Blood thinners are an effective tool for preventing vein blood clots in people with cancer. The fact they may also prevent artery clots in eligible patients with pancreatic cancer should encourage their use in that population," says Dr. Yan Xu, hematologist and associate scientist at The Ottawa Hospital and assistant professor at the University of Ottawa.

Authors: Yan Xu, Caroline Mallity, Erin Collins, Deborah M. Siegal, Tzu-Fei Wang, Marc Carrier

The Ottawa Hospital is a leading academic health, research and learning hospital proudly affiliated with the University of Ottawa and supported by The Ottawa Hospital Foundation.