Table 1.

Major risk factors for venous thromboembolism (VTE) and suggested actions.

Risk factors	Action
Individual Previous central venous catheter or pacemaker History of VTE Hypercoagulable state thrombophilia Obesity (body mass index ≥ 30) Comorbidities: cardiac, diabetes, renal impairment, chronic inflammatory disease High degree and prolonged immobilization Recent surgery (within about 40 days): neurotrauma, orthopedic, general, other Medications: erythropoietin, hormone replacement therapy, tamoxifen/ stilboestrol New diagnosis of myeloma Hyperviscosity
Myeloma therapy Doxorubicin High-dose steroid (≥480 mg/month dexamethasone or equivalent) Combination chemotherapy	LMWH (high-risk prophylactic dose) Or WAR (target INR 2.5)
Bleeding Active bleeding Hemophilia or other known bleeding disorder Platelet count <100 × 109/l Acute stroke in previous month (hemorrhagic or ischemic) Blood pressure >200 mmHg systolic or >120 mmHg diastolic Severe liver disease (abnormal PT or known varices) Severe renal disease (creatinine clearance <30 ml/min) Undergoing procedure or intervention with high bleeding risk	Clinicians should consider whether the presence of bleeding risk is sufficient to preclude pharmacological thromboprophylaxis

ASA, aspirin 81–325 mg once daily; LMWH, low molecular weight heparin, equivalent of enoxaparin 40 mg once daily; PT, prothrombin time; WAR, full-dose warfarin; INR, International Normalized Ratio.