How common are blood clots and what increases their risk of developing in patients with Hodgkin lymphoma?

This study examined how often patients with Hodgkin lymphoma develop blood clots and what factors increase this risk. The results showed that a minority of patients develop blood clots and that there are several factors that increase the chance of blood clots developing.

Blood clots are more common in patients with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). Blood clots occur when platelets and other molecules in the blood collect in blood vessels and block the flow of blood. This can lead to other serious complications if left untreated. Blood clots can be found in the upper and lower body but are considered more severe when detected in the lungs. 

Prevention of blood clots is important, particularly in patients who are considered ‘high risk’. Therefore, information regarding their frequency and factors that increase the chance of their development in patients with HL is useful.

Data from 150 patients with HL were analyzed. Information regarding blood clots was analyzed. The factors that led to more common blood clots were evaluated.

20.7% of patients (31 patients) developed a blood clot. 18 patients developed a clot in the upper body, 3 patients developed a clot in the lower body and 10 developed a clot in the lungs. The average time it took for a blood clot to develop was 5 months. 29 patients developed a clot during treatment and 2 patients developed one just as treatment finished.

There were several factors that increased the risk of developing a blood clot. Patients who had stage III or IV HL or a body mass index (BMI; a measurement of weight in relation to height) of over 32 kg/m² had a higher risk of developing blood clots. Additionally, patients with cancer in the spleen, those prone to clotting and patients with low levels of red or white blood cells also had a higher risk. The type of treatment, the position of the central line for treatment and not receiving anti-clotting treatment before treatment also increased patients’ risks of blood clots.

Patients who did not have blood clots survived for an average of 110.12 months. Patients who had a clot survived for an average of 86.55 months.

The authors concluded that approximately a fifth of patients with HL develop blood clots and that there were factors that helped to predict which patients were most at risk.

This study was limited by its analysis from medical records which meant that some data was missing.  A small number of patients in Turkey were analyzed in this study so this may not reflect other populations.