Prophylactic anticoagulation in patients with glioblastoma or brain metastases and atrial fibrillation: an increased risk for intracranial hemorrhage?

Purpose: Patients with glioblastoma (GBM) or brain metastases (MET) and atrial fibrillation (AF) might be at an increased risk of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) due to anticoagulation (AC). Our aim was to assess this risk.

Methods: Our institution's database (from 2005 to 2017) was screened for patients with GBM or MET and AF with an indication for AC according to their CHA₂DS₂VASc stroke risk score (≥ 2). Required follow-up was at least 3 months. AC was either performed with heparins, phenprocoumon or non-Vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants. Applying the propensity score approach, patient cohorts (matched according to primary tumor, age, sex) were generated (GBM [or MET] with AF ± AC, GBM [or MET] without AF/AC, no GBM [or MET] but AF on AC). ICH was defined as clinical deterioration caused by new blood on imaging. A log rank test was performed to compare the risk for ICH between the three groups.

Results: In total, 104 patients were identified of which 49 with GBM (37% on AC) and 37 with MET (46% on AC) were successfully matched. Median follow up was 8.6 and 7.2 months, respectively. ICH occurred in 10.2% of GBM + AF and 12.2% GBM-AF, whereas 8% of patients with AF on AC suffered ICH (p = 0.076). 13.5% of patients with MET + AF had ICHs, in the controls it was 16% for MET-AF and 8% for AF on AC (p = 0.11).

Conclusion: AC did not seem to influence the incidence of ICH in patients with glioblastoma or brain metastases within follow up of just under 9 months.