[Changes in hemostasis in malignant diseases]

Tumourous diseases are associated with haemorrhagic as well as thrombotic complications. The most frequent cause of haemorrhagic states in tumourous diseases is thrombocytopenic haemorrhage, consumption coagulopathy and activated fibrinolysis. Trousseau described in 1865 a mutual association between tumourous diseases and venous thromboembolism. As many as 15-20% patients with venous thromboembolism have an undetected malignity which is a prevalence of 2-3% in the population. From this ensues the relative risk of a newly diagnosed malignity which is higher during the first year after venous thromboembolism. The prevalence varies between 2% and 6%. Migrating thrombophlebitiis (saltans and migrans) are a relatively specific sign in tumours, in particular in pancreatic tumours. In the pathogenesis of venous thromboembolisms in tumourous diseases in particular the following factors play a part: elevated coagulation parameters, reduced fibrinolysis, frequent immobilization, surgical operations in the case-history, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy and central venous catheters. The authors present a brief review of changes of haemostasis in tumourous diseases, their possible diagnosis and possible pharmacological prevention and treatment of thromboembolisms.