Leukocytic tissue thromboplastin activity in various types of leukemia

Abstract

Peripheral and bone marrow leukocytes from 24 leukemic patients (including 5 patients with DIC) were analysed for coagulant and fibrinolytic activity. Suspension of leukocytes were prepared by dextran method. Washed preparations were disrupted by freezing and thawing three times and homogenized. Lysates of these leukocytes were added into prothrombin time system instead of lyoplastin (rabbit lung tissue thromboplastin). For comparison, leukocytes from 10 normal donnors were tested. Antithrombin III, fibrinogen, prothrombin and FDP were simultaneously measured and these change in clinical courses were compaired with leukocytic thromboplastin like activity.Lysate of these leukocytes from peripheral and bone marrow in cases of leukemia with DIC showed high coagulant activity in prothrombin time system. FDP increased and antithrombin III, prothrombin and fibrinogen decreased. However lysate of leukemia without DIC showed normal or lower leukocytic thromboplastin like activity in prothrombin time system and FDP, antithrombin III, prothrombin and fibrinogen were not so changed. The coagulant activity of the lysate of AMMoL was intermediate between DIC and non DIC. In clinical courses of leukemic therapy, leukocytic thromboplastin like activity was relatively related to number of leukemic cells. The cases with high leukocytic thromboplastin like activity before chemotherapy have an anxierty to induce DIC.We think that leukocytic thromboplastin like activity is related to DIC in leukemia.