Dalteparin reduced recurrent venous thromboembolism more than oral anticoagulation in patients with cancer.

P a t i e n t s 676 patients (mean age 63 y, 51% women) who had active cancer (other than skin cancer) and symptomatic proximal deep venous thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism, or both. Exclusion criteria were weight ≤ 40 kg, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status score of 3 or 4, therapeutic doses of heparin for ≥ 48 hours before randomization, receipt of anticoagulant therapy, active bleeding in the past 2 weeks, conditions associated with serious bleeding, platelet count < 75 000 mm3, contraindication to heparin or contrast medium, creatinine level ≥ 3 times the upper limit of normal, or pregnancy. Follow-up was 99.4%.