Coagulopathy of disseminated neuroblastoma

We performed coagulation studies in 16 patients with advanced neuroblastoma. Four of these patients had major hemorrhagic or thromboembolic complications. Abnormal coagulation screening tests were seen in all patients with active metastatic disease. We also measured plasma fibrinopeptide A, a sensitive measure of intravascular thrombin generation. Increased concentrations of fibrinopeptide A were found in each patient studied with active metastatic disease. Coagulopathy is a frequent finding in metastatic neuroblastoma and may cause severe morbidity. Laboratory studies suggesting either hyper- or hypocoagulability are frequent findings.