Fibrinogen survival with [75Se]Selenomethionine during L-asparaginase therapy.

Abstract

Summary. Fibrinogen anabolism and catabolism in four patients (acute lymphoblastic leukaemia; lymphosarcoma cell leukaemia; generalized lymphosarcoma; hypernephroma) were determined with [75Se]selenomethionine during a period of hypofibrinogenaemia induced by l‐asparaginase. The anabolic phase was normal but the fibrinogen survival decreased to 1.5–4.0 days (normal range, 7.8 ± 2.8 days). Heparin therapy did not affect either the fibrinogen levels or abnormal thrombin times. In two patients with widespread Hodgkin's disease in whom l‐asparaginase therapy was started after the labelling of fibrinogen with [75Se]selenomethionine, the fibrinogen survival was normal. The results suggest the production of an intrinsically abnormal fibrinogen with a decreased survival during l‐asparaginase administration.