Hypercoagulability after immunotherapy with Corynebacterium parvum in man

The effect of an immunotherapy with Corynebacterium parvum on the blood coagulation system was investigated in a randomized trial of 18 patients with metastatic breast cancer. All patients received cytostatic therapy. Additionally, C. parvum was given intravenously on day 15 of the cytostatic cycle (group I) or on day 1 (group II) or not at all (group III). Fibrinopeptide A increased within 2 h after intravenous administration of C. parvum in groups I and II and normalized after 24 h (p less than 0.05). Platelet counts decreased continuously in all treatment groups (p less than 0.05). Prothrombin time, fibrinolytic concentration, factor VIII:C and factor VIIIR:Ag were not affected. The fibrinolytic activity showed a slight but not statistically significant increase after intravenous administration of C. parvum. The data suggest that plasma hypercoagulability is induced or enhanced in man even after small intravenous doses of C. parvum.