[Disseminated intravascular coagulation and hyperfibrinolysis in dogs with metastasizing mammary carcinoma]

The alterations of the haemostatic system (platelet count, activated partial thromboplastin time [APTT], thromboplastin time [standard test, modified test], thrombin time, fibrinogen concentration, activity of the coagulation factors II, V, VII, X, VIII:C, IX, XI, XII, of prekallikrein, high molecular weight kininogen, antithrombin III, protein C, plasminogen and alpha 2-plasmin inhibitor, concentration of soluble fibrin and fibrin(ogen) degradation products [FDP], resonance thrombogram) were described in seven dogs with haemorrhagic diathesis in consequence of an infiltrative, growing mammary carcinoma with multifocal invasion of lymphatic and blood vessels. In most of the cases metastases in different organs could be demonstrated. In every case a serious stage of disseminated intravascular coagulation and hyperfibrinolysis was existent. This was indicated by the distinctly increased concentration (p < 0.0001) of soluble fibrin (27.7 [16.0-79.2] micrograms/ml, median [minimum-maximum], reference range [RR.]: < 9.4 micrograms/ml) and FDP (340 [50-860] micrograms/ml, RR.: < 18 micrograms/ml) as well as a diminished plasma level of nearly all components of the coagulation and fibrinolytic system concerning especially the concentration of fibrinogen (0.16 [0.01-0.46] g/l, RR.: 1.17-3.09 g/l), the activity of factors V (30 [21-40]%, RR.: 75-158%) and VIII:C (9 [4-16]%, RR.: 72-136%) as well as the activity of protein C (8 [3-13]%, RR.: 68-139%) (each: p < 0.0001).