A continuous spectrum of hypercoagulability exists in acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia

A consumption coagulopathy syndrome has frequently been reported in association with some cases of acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia (ANLL) and mainly in acute promyelocytic leukemia (M3). Eighteen cases of ANLL have been studied on admission, before chemotherapy was started. Levels of antithrombin III (AT-III), protein C (PC), protein S (PS), thrombin-antithrombin complex (T-AT-III), tissue plasminogen activator, plasminogen (Pg), alpha-2-antiplasmin (alpha-2-AP), D-dimer (DD) and fibrinogen (Fg) were determined. The results showed normal levels of AT-III and PS, decreased levels of PC, alpha-2-AP, Pg and Fg in some cases, and an elevation of DD and T-AT III complex in almost all patients. There was a continuous evolution of data from M1 cases in which only slight alterations were seen up to M3 cases where all those pathologic data were observed.