COVID-19 associated coagulopathy and thrombosis in cancer.

ABSTRACT

Cancer patients are at risk for a more severe COVID-19 infection as well as an adverse outcome of such infection. This may be caused by the cancer itself (e.g haematological malignancies and lung cancer) or due to immune suppression caused by anti-cancer treatment. Severe COVID-19 infections are often complicated by a coagulopathy that clinically results in a high incidence of venous thromboembolic disease. Cancer itself is associated with a hypercoagulable state and a markedly increased incidence of thromboembolic complications, hence the combination of cancer and COVID-19 may amplify this risk. COVID-19 vaccination seems safe and effective in most cancer patients although adapted and bespoke vaccination schemes may increase the seroconversion rate and immune response in selected patients. Specific management strategies to improve outcomes of cancer patients in COVID-19 (e.g. higher intensity antithrombotic prophylaxis) are lacking and should be evaluated in clinical studies simultaneously focusing on efficacy and safety.