Humoral coagulation and early complications after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation

Alterations of the coagulation system that may lead to coagulation activation and thrombosis are common sequelae after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). We performed prophylactic anticoagulation by low dose heparin (50 units/kg/day) and substitution of antithrombin (AT) concentrate to sustain plasma levels above 90% of pooled normal human plasma. Conventional tests for plasmatic hemostasis and substitution of AT concentrate were recorded for 50 patients until day +50 after BMT. Incidence of sepsis, graft-versus-host-disease [GVHD], capillary leakage syndrome [CLS] and veno-occlusive disease of the liver [VOD] were investigated and compared with the results of patients without any of these complications. Patients with proven sepsis (n = 6) showed decreased activity of AT, and a prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), while fibrinogen levels were slightly increased. This constellation was interpreted as mild to moderate activation of the humoral coagulation cascade. Patients with VOD (n = 10) showed an increased consumption of AT concentrate at day +7 followed by a decrease of prothrombin time, of clotting factors II and VII, and a prolongation of aPTT at days +11 to +18 after BMT. This suggests, that activation of coagulation precedes decreased synthesis of coagulation factors. Patients with CLS (n = 15) or GVHD > or = II degree (n = 14) showed no major alterations of coagulation parameters. In conclusion, after BMT, two types of coagulopathy were observed: (i) an activation of the coagulation cascade (i.e. sepsis and VOD) which was followed by (ii) a diminished synthesis of coagulation factors (VOD). In order to perform timely therapeutic interventions in the coagulation system in patients with sepsis and/or VOD it appears to be important to assess the clinical value of parameters for early detection of coagulation activation as thrombin-AT complexes, D-dimers and F1 + 2 fragments.