Inherited Thrombophilia and the Risk of Venous Thromboembolism in Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, a Case-Control Study

Background/ObjectivesVenous thromboembolism (VTE) is a frequent complication of cancer, namely lung cancer. Many studies have been done searching for risk factors for VTE, but most don't address the topic of inherited thrombophilia. The aim of this study is to evaluate the contribution of inherited thrombophilia to VTE in patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC).MethodsThis is an observational, prospective, case-control study, involving 40 patients with NSCLC, stages IIIB or IV, 20 with a diagnosis of VTE, and 20 with no VTE. Blood samples were collected for factor V and prothrombin genotyping, functional assays of antithrombin, protein C and protein S, and activated protein C resistance. All patients gave a signed informed consent, and the study was approved by the Ethics Committees of the Institutions involved.ResultsThe case and control groups were similar in terms of gender, age, Body Mass Index (BMI), stage or type of cancer. No patients were found with deficiencies of antithrombin or protein C, or with the prothrombin mutation. Factor V Leiden (FVL) was found in 2 patients from the case group, both with activated protein C resistance, and in none of the control group. Low levels of protein S were found in 2 patients from the control group and 1 from the case group.ConclusionsWe conclude that FVL may be an important risk factor for VTE in patients with NSCLC. If these patients were screened for FVL, we could probably reduce the prevalence of VTE.