Normal levels of antithrombin III in acute leukemia complicated by coagulopathy

A patient with acute monoblastic leukemia developed a coagulopathy during chemotherapy. Coagulation studies showed thrombocytopenia, hypofibrinogenemia, high levels of fibrinogen degradation products, a negative protemine test but a normal antithrombin III level. These observations suggest that coagulation abnormalities appearing in acute leukemia are not necessarily due to diffuse intravascular coagulation.