Hemostatic function in cancer patients

We performed coagulation profiles including a complete blood count (CBC), prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), thrombin time (TT), and quantitation of fibrinogen, antithrombin III (AT III), plasminogen, and fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products (FDP) on 73 cancer patients. All had solid tumors with clinically documented metastases. Eleven patients had strong clinical and laboratory evidence of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Fifty‐five of the remaining 62 patients had no clinical evidence of serious hemorrhage or thrombosis at the time of testing. Thirty‐one (50%) non‐DIC patients had no abnormal clotting tests. Our data indicate that a majority of cancer patients, with or without hepatic involvement, are able to maintain normal or near normal hemostatic function in vitro until advanced stages of disease. Deviation from normal for PT, aPTT, or TT, depressed AT III activity, or increased FDP signal the presence of complicating pathophysiologic events such as DIC or cirrhosis. Diminution of fibrinogen level or AT III activity and elevation of FDP are more sensitive indicators of DIC than prolongation of PT, aPTT, or TT.