Transient increase in thrombin generation during radiotherapy of uterine carcinoma: A preliminary study using...

The question of the study was whether irradiation therapy applied to women with cervical or endometrial carcinoma leads to increased thrombin generation. The study group consisted of 42 women with cervical carcinoma (22 cases) and endometrial carcinoma (20 cases). Irradiation (brachytherapy or/and teletherapy) was applied as follows: 200 cGy/day, 5 days a week, therapeutic dose of 4,500-5,000 cGy. Complexes of thrombin-antithrombin III in blood plasma were measured (ELISA method) before radiotherapy and 4-5 times during therapy. A transient increase in thrombin generation was noticed in 16 of 42 patients: the median value of all 'peaks' was 19.25 (range 3.20-30.00 microgram/l) in cases of cervical carcinoma, and 14.50 (range 5.25-27.75 microgram/l) in cases of endometrial carcinoma. It was concluded that therapeutic doses of ionic energy cause only a transient increase in thrombin generation.