[Vena cava filters and treatment of venous thromboembolism in cancer patients]
Résumé
Despite numerous publications, there is still only one randomised clinical trial with vena cava filter in the treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE). This study has shown a potential and early benefit on the risk of pulmonary embolism (PE) (the first three months) but a late negative effect on the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) recurrences (beyond the sixth month) especially on the risk of filter thrombosis. Consequently, the international recommendations are against a systematic use of vena cava filter to treat VTE (grade 1A) and they suggest to use them in case of a recurrence despite adequate treatment or in case of a contra-indication to anticoagulants (grade 2C). But these two conditions are frequent with VTE associated with cancer since, the risk of VTE recurrences is about 5 to 10% despite prolonged low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWH) treatment and the major bleeding risk is also about 5 to 10% in this case. These VTE recurrences are frequently early (first month of treatment) and contra-indications to anticoagulants due to major bleeding are mostly temporary. In this way, retrievable vena cava filters (possible retrieval until six months after placement) could be useful in order, to prevent recurrences during the thromboembolic risk period without any prolonged increasing risk of vena cava thrombosis. However, vena cava filters could be associated with some complications (tilt, migration sepsis...). So without any strong validation, they have still to be considered as a therapeutic strategy needing to be evaluated especially in cancer patient.