PB1429 - Risk factors for venous thromboembolism in multiple myeloma patients

Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE), encompassing pulmonary embolism (PE) and deep vein thrombosis (DVT), represents a significant complication among patients with cancer, leading to increased morbidity and mortality. Research on venous thromboembolism (VTE) in multiple myeloma (MM) patients within the Asian population is notably scarce.

Aims: Our study aimed to investigate the risk factors for VTE in MM patients to improve prevention strategies for these conditions.

Methods: We included patients aged 18 years and older who were newly diagnosed with symptomatic MM at the Taipei Veterans General Hospital, a tertiary medical center. The study period ranged from January 1, 2002, to February 28, 2023. Our primary goal was to assess the development of VTE, including PE and DVT, in these patients.

Results: The study analyzed 862 patients, with a median age of 69 years. Throughout the follow-up period of 21 years, VTE, including PE and DVT, occurred in 13 patients. We used Cox proportional regression analysis to determine the risk factors for VTE in multiple myeloma patients. Our multivariate analysis identified several independent risk factors for VTE in these patients. These included the κ light chain isotype (with an adjusted hazard ratio [HR] of 8.37), a history of cerebrovascular accidents (adjusted HR of 4.23), and elevated serum creatinine levels greater than 2 mg/dL (adjusted HR of 2.55). Notably, the therapeutic strategies for multiple myeloma did not show a correlation with the occurrence of VTE in our study. We observed a significant reduction in overall survival among MM patients with PE, in contrast to DVT, which did not show a similar impact.

Conclusion(s): In summary, our research indicates an increased risk of VTE, including PE and DVT, in multiple myeloma patients with specific risk factors. These findings highlight the need for further prospective clinical studies to clarify the relationship between multiple myeloma and the risk of VTE.