Prophylaxis with enoxaparin and antithrombin III in drug-induced coagulation alterations in childhood leukemia: a retrospective experience of 20 years.

Background: Thromboembolic complications are well known in the treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Over the years it has not been possible to reach a consensus on a possible prophylaxis of thromboembolic events during intensive therapy. Only the administration of enoxaparin was able to achieve evidence in the literature to date.

Methods: In this retrospective study, 173 childhood leukemia patients were treated over 20 years with a thromboembolic prophylaxis including enoxaparin and AT III during induction therapy with L-asparaginase and cortisone.

Results: We here report the effectiveness of administration of enoxaparin and AT III in childhood leukemia, showing a strikingly low prevalence of deep vein thrombosis (2.9%). Especially in adolescent patients, a particularly great need for AT III was demonstrated.

Conclusions: We recommend thromboembolic prophylaxis with enoxaparin and AT III substitution during induction/reinduction therapy with L-asparaginase and glucocorticosteroids, especially from adolescence onwards.