Disturbances of desmofibrinogenesis in pateints suffering from acute myeloblastic leukemia

Significantly decreased levels of blood plasma clotting factor XIII (FSF) were found in the blood of 20 patients with acute myeloblastic leukemia as compared to the control values. It was found that after administration of cytostatic drugs (Cerubidyne and Cytosar) FSF deficiency was higher. This effect was associated with a proteolytic activity detectable in plasma which destroys FSF in vitro. This proteolytic activity was neither inhibited by EACA nor by Trasylol. These results indicate that in patients with acute myeloblastic leukemia beside DIC the treatment with cytostatic drugs as well as the presence of proteases from leukemic cells in the plasma will cause an impairment of transformation of soluble fibrin polymer into insoluble desmofibrin.