Deep vein thrombosis as a complication of megestrol acetate therapy among nursing home residents

OBJECTIVES: To describe a cluster of cases of proximal deep vein thrombosis among nursing home residents treated with megestrol acetate, to identify other risk factors for deep vein thrombosis development among these patients, and to alert physicians to this potential complication of megestrol acetate therapy. DESIGN: Retrospective review. SETTING: A 129-bed Maryland nursing home. PARTICIPANTS: Nineteen residents prescribed megestrol acetate between November 1997 July 1998, identified by computerized pharmacy records. MEASUREMENTS: Demographic data (including identification of known risk factors for deep vein thrombosis development) were collected along with information on the indications for megestrol acetate therapy and its duration, diagnostic studies related to detection of deep vein thrombosis and their results, and patient outcomes following diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis. RESULTS: Megestrol acetate was prescribed for 18 nutritionally at-risk patients and one with uterine cancer. Six (32%) patients developed deep vein thrombosis signs and symptoms, and all diagnoses were confirmed as proximal deep vein thromboses with Doppler studies. (No diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis were made among any nursing home patients not being treated with megestrol acetate during the observation period.) All patients diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis were hospitalized and anticoagulated, but none were diagnosed with pulmonary embolus or died. The length [median (range)] of megestrol acetate treatment was similar regardless of whether deep vein thrombosis developed [117 (57-244) versus 143 (2-294) days, respectively, P = 0.83]. Stratification by length of treatment in 50-day increments revealed that most patients who developed deep vein thrombosis did so after 50 days of treatment (P = 0.046). CONCLUSION: A high incidence of deep vein thrombosis was identified among nursing home residents treated with megestrol acetate, even among ambulatory individuals with no other known risk factors. Because the efficacy of megestrol acetate treatment in nursing home residents with weight loss is unproven, the risk of deep vein thrombosis must be considered when prescribing megestrol acetate, and its use to treat nutritionally at-risk nursing home residents should be limited.