[Incidence and forms of the DIC syndrome in multiple myeloma]

The incidence and forms of DIC-syndrome were studied in 80 patients with myeloma. A battery of hemostatic tests was used, allowing the diagnosis of both the chronic decompensated and compensated forms. The syndrome has been established in 29% of the non-treated patients and becomes more frequent with the advancing of the clinical stage of the disease. Several patients with a rather special clinical course are described. The treatment of the syndrome coincides with the treatment of the basic disease and the concomitant complications, and heparin was administered only in single cases. The pathogenetic mechanisms for advancing of DIC in myeloma are described, associated with the character and peculiarities of the basic disease.