The treatment with thalidomide is associated with an increased risk of thromboembolic events, in particular when it is combined with chemotherapy or dexamethasone. However, despite this well-documented prothrombotic effect, to our knowledge disseminated intravascular coagulation has never been reported in hematological or oncological patients treated with thalidomide. We report a case of disseminated intravascular coagulation in a patient treated with thalidomide and dexamethasone for advanced, heavily pretreated hormone-resistant prostate cancer in which a relationship with the treatment appears highly likely.
HusseinM.A.: Thromboembolism risk reduction in multiple myeloma patients treated with immunomodulatory drug combinations. Thromb Haemost, 95: 924–930, 2006.
6.
LipG.Y.H., ChinB.S.P., BlannA.D.: Cancer and the prothrombotic state. Lancet Oncol, 3: 27–34, 2002.
7.
ZangariM., AnaissieE., BarlogieB., BadrosA., DesikanR., Viju GopalA., MorrisC., ToorA., SiegelE., FinkL., TricotG.: Increased risk of deep-vein thrombosis in patients with multiple myeloma receiving thalidomide and chemotherapy. Blood, 98: 1614–1615, 2001.
8.
CavoM., ZamagniE., CelliniC., TosiP., CanginiD., CiniM., ValdrèL., PalaretiG., MasiniL., TuraS., BaccaraniM.: Deep-vein thrombosis in patients with multiple myeloma receiving first line thalidomide-dexamethasone therapy. Blood, 100: 2272–2273, 2002.
9.
GalliM., ElicF., CrippaC., ComottiB., RodeghieroF., BarbuiT.: Recombinant human erythropoietin and the risk of thrombosis in patients receiving thalidomide for multiple myeloma. Haematologica, 89: 1141–1142, 2003.
