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.