Markers of hypercoagulability in children with newly diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Incidence and risk factors of venous thromboembolism in patients with acute Leukemia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Currently, no systematic review has been published regarding the incidence and risk factors of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with acute leukemia. This study was implemented to identify the incidence and risk factors of VTE in patients with acute leukemia, aiming to offer guidance for corresponding clinical diagnosis and treatment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Studies in PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of Science were fully searched from database to January 2024. The risk of bias was assessed using NOS scale. Data analysis was performed with STATA 15.1.

RESULTS

Twenty-two studies covering 53,433 samples were included. The overall incidence of VTE in patients with acute leukemia was 9 % (95 % CI: 0.07-0.12; P < 0.01). Older age in children (OR=2.21; 95 % CI: 1.40-3.49; P < 0.001), older age in adults (OR=2.05; 95 % CI: 1.02-4.10; P = 0.044), non-B cell subtype in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) (OR=1.85; 95 % CI: 1.43-2.39; P < 0.001) were risk factors for VTE in patients with acute leukemia, while Hispanic ethnicity was associated with a lower risk of VTE (OR=0.81; 95 % CI: 0.67-0.99; P = 0.040). Subgroup analysis results revealed that, in patients with acute myeloid leukemia, male gender was associated with a lower risk of VTE (OR=0.83; 95 % CI: 0.70-0.99; P = 0.039); in patients with ALL, older age in adults (OR=4.41; 95 % CI: 2.25-8.66; P < 0.001) and T-cell subtype (OR=1.82; 95 % CI: 1.39-2.37; P < 0.001) was a risk factor, non-White was associated with a lower risk of VTE (OR=0.69; 95 % CI: 0.54-0.89; P = 0.004).

CONCLUSION

The overall incidence of VTE was high in patients with acute leukemia. Older age and T-cell phenotype were risk factors, while Hispanic ethnicity was associated with a lower risk of VTE. This suggests more attention should be paid to high-risk groups in clinical practice.

Blood hypercoagulability and thrombosis mechanisms in cancer patients -A brief review

Patients with malignant tumors are prone to present hypercoagulability of blood and form thrombosis, and its pathogenesis is complex involving various factors from clinical and histopathological to genetic influences. Current studies on the potential mechanism of blood hypercoagulability in patients with malignant tumors focus on the following aspects but are not limited: (1) tumor cells release coagulant-promoting substances, (2) tumor cells interact with the fibrinolytic system, (3) tumor cell-mediated platelet activation, (4) tumor-associated complement activation, and (5) genetic factors and clinical factors. Especially, the pathogenesis of blood hypercoagulability is in-depth analyzed covering tumor cells' release of procoagulant substances, the interplay of cancer cells and fibrinolytic system, platelet activation mediated by cancer cells, cancer-associated complement activation, and the action of genetic and clinical factors. We review the pathogenesis of blood hypercoagulability in patients with malignant tumors, which will assist in the research and development of new drugs and providing theoretical support for the formulation of the best treatment plan for patients, to prolong the survival of patients.

Thrombin Generation Profile Using ST-Genesia after PEG-asparaginase in Pediatric Patients with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

BACKGROUND

 Venous thromboembolism (VTE) etiology in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is multifactorial. The use of global assays of hemostasis as a thrombin generation test (TGT) is useful to individualize VTE risk in adult patients. This prospective cohort study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of an automated TGT to evaluate VTE risk during ALL treatment in children.

METHODS

 TGT (automated analyzer ST Genesia; ThromboScreen) and pro- and anticoagulant plasma proteins were analyzed during ALL treatment in pediatric patients following LAL-SEHOP-PETHEMA-2013 guidelines. Results were compared with a series of pediatric normal controls and evaluated according to pegylated asparaginase PEG-ASP administration and to VTE risk factors.

RESULTS

 The study included 67 patients: males n = 35, B-ALL (n = 60). None had a VTE during the evaluated period. Compared to healthy controls, the normalized endogenous thrombin potential (N-ETP) ratio in patients was higher and ETP inhibition (ETP-inh) was lower, especially after PEG-ASP administration. Plasmatic protein C and protein S levels decreased after PEG-ASP administration, but antithrombin mean level did not. A bivariant analysis showed that ETP-inh was lower in patients >10 years old (p = 0.05) and in those with non-O blood type (p = 0.005). A linear mixed model also showed a higher TGT prothrombotic profile in patients with inherited thrombophilia.

CONCLUSION

 TGT could be a biomarker of a high VTE risk in ALL pediatric patients. Non-O blood group and inherited thrombophilia were associated with a significantly higher thrombotic profile, and an increased profile was also observed after administration of PEG-ASP.

Biomarkers Associated with Thrombosis in Patients with Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

The measurement and identification of plasma biomarkers can support the estimation of risk and diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) associated with the use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC).

OBJECTIVES

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to identify the association between the levels of potential biomarkers that reflect the activation of the blood system, long-term vascular complications, inflammatory system, and the occurrence of PICC-related DVT.

METHODS

Seven electronic databases (Embase, Web of Science, Medline, Scopus, Cinahl, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and ERIC) were searched to identify literature published until December 2022. Studies were required to report: (I) adult and pediatric patients, outpatient or admitted to clinical, surgical, or ICU with PICC; (II) patients with PICC-related DVT and patients without PICC-related DVT as a comparator; and (III) at least one biomarker available. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to evaluate the quality of the studies. Study precision was evaluated by using a funnel plot for platelets level. We provided a narrative synthesis and meta-analysis of the findings on the biomarkers' outcomes of the studies. We pooled the results using random effects meta-analysis. The meta-analysis was conducted using Review Manager software v5.4. This systematic review is registered in PROSPERO (CRD42018108871).

RESULTS

Of the 3564 studies identified (after duplication removal), 28 were included. PICC-related DVT was associated with higher D-dimers (0.37 μg/mL, 95% CI 0.02, 0.72; p = 0.04, I² = 92%; p for heterogeneity < 0.00001) and with higher platelets (8.76 × 10⁹/L, 95% CI 1.62, 15.91; p = 0.02, I² = 41%; p for heterogeneity = 0.06).

CONCLUSIONS

High levels of D-dimer and platelet were associated with DVT in patients with PICC. However, biomarkers such as APTT, fibrinogen, FDP, glucose, hemoglobin, glycated hemoglobin, INR, prothrombin time, prothrombin fragment 1.2, the thrombin-antithrombin complex, and WBC were not related to the development of DVT associated with PICC.

Biomarkers in pediatric venous thromboembolism: a systematic review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Accurate prediction of the individual risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) remains suboptimal in children, and biomarkers are currently not used to stratify the risk of VTE in children.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to assess which biological or radiological biomarkers may predict VTE or VTE complications in children.

PATIENTS/METHODS

A literature search was performed for peer-reviewed publications (1990-2022). We included studies addressing the use of biomarkers for patients aged 29 days to 18 years to predict VTE or its complications, including but not limited to TE-related death, VTE recurrence, or postthrombotic syndrome. Given the heterogeneity of the study designs, populations, and outcomes, no quantitative data synthesis was performed.

RESULTS

Forty studies were included, totaling 10,987 participants (median age: 4.7 years). Reports were often lacking critical methodological data, including blood collection method (68% of studies) and timepoints, laboratory testing technique (41%), or primary outcome definition (20%). Forty-six individual biomarkers were assessed for VTE prediction (32 studies, 9525 participants), including d-dimers, fibrinogen, platelet count, white blood cell count, and factor VIII. Albumin, C-reactive protein, d-dimers, factor VIII, and thrombin-antithrombin levels showed promising results for VTE prediction. In 9 studies (1606 participants), no biomarker was consistently predictive of postthrombotic syndrome, VTE persistence, or VTE recurrence in children.

CONCLUSIONS

Several candidate biomarkers were promising in the prediction of VTE in children. Still, discrepancies between different studies and the high risk of bias from the current literature prevent their widespread use in the clinical setting. Further prospective research in various pediatric subpopulations is required.