Bemiparin as a long-term treatment for venous thrombosis in cancer patients: the ELEBAMA study

Introduction Low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) is the standard treatment for cancer-associated venous thromboembolism (VTE). There have been no specific studies evaluating bemiparin for VTE in people with cancer. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of bemiparin for long-term treatment of VTE in routine clinical practice. Methods/patients Prospective observational study. Consecutive patients with active cancer and VTE, under treatment with bemiparin for at least 6 months, were recruited. Results We included 89 patients. The 6- and 9-month cumulative VTE recurrence rates were 2.4% and 5.9%, respectively. The 6-month cumulative rate of major bleeding was 1.3%, and of clinically relevant non-major bleeding, 8%. Conclusions The incidence of events in this study is lower than that reported in randomized trials. Bemiparin is effective and safe for the long-term treatment of cancer-associated VTE in routine clinical practice.