Elevated thrombin-antithrombin III complex concentrations in patients with gynaecological malignancy

In patients with malignant tumors a high incidence of haemostatic disorders occurs. The reaction of thrombin with its major inhibitor antithrombin III (AT III) leads to the formation of a stable complex, which represents a sensitive marker for the activation of intravascular coagulation. In 153 patients suffering from different kinds of gynaecological malignancy thrombin-antithrombin III-complex (TAT) levels were measured. In 21 cases the course of the disease was studied. Of 153 patients with gynaecological malignancy 102 (67%) showed TAT plasma concentrations above the normal range before therapy. Seven patients with elevated TAT levels before treatment showed a decrease of TAT concentrations to the normal range when no evidence of disease was obvious. In 5 cases TAT levels were in the normal range before and after successful therapy, 4 patients with tumor progression and 5 patients with tumor recurrence showed an increase of TAT levels. The TAT plasma concentrations correlated with the presence or absence of the tumor. Measurement of TAT plasma concentrations in gynaecologic malignancies can detect any thromboembolic risk for the patient and in addition can reveal information about the course of the disease.