Clinical guidelines for prevention and treatment of CAT in Japan and other countries

Abstract

Cancer-associated thrombosis (CAT) is an important prognostic factor for an increasing number of cancer patients. Understanding of CAT among cancer care providers has grown in recent years, and guidelines for the prevention and treatment of CAT have been published in Japan and around the world. In this article, we introduce these major guidelines and discuss differences we identified between the Japanese guidelines and those of other countries, with a focus on problems and issues. Insurance coverage of low-molecular-weight heparin and indications for primary prevention with direct oral anticoagulants in particular require urgent consideration.

Keywords: Cancer-associated thrombosis (CAT); Differences between the Japanese guidelines and those of other countries; Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs); Guidelines; Low molecular weight heparin (LMWH).