Studies on the pathogenesis of coagulopathy in patients with arterial thromboembolism and malignancy.

Plasma levels of thrombin-antithrombin III complex (TAT), plasmin-alpha 2-plasmin inhibitor complex (PAP), von Willebrand factor antigen (vWF:Ag) plasminogen activator antigen (PA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 antigen (PAI-1), were determined in 110 patients with arterial thromboembolic diseases within 4 weeks after attack (Th; 41 cases with myocardial infarction and 69 with cerebral infarction), 67 patients with various types of carcinoma (Ca; 31 cases without metastasis and 36 with metastasis) and 50 age-matched healthy individuals (Co). The following results were obtained: 1) Mean plasma levels of TAT, PAP, vWF:Ag, PA and PAI-1 were significantly higher in Th than Co. 2) Mean plasma levels of TAT, PA and PAI-1 were significantly higher in Ca than Co regardless of metastasis but those of PAP and vWF:Ag were significantly higher only in Ca with metastasis than Co. 3) Significant relationship was observed between plasma levels of TAT and PAP both in Th and Ca. 4) Significant relationship was also observed between plasma levels of TAT and vWF:Ag, PA or PAI-1 in Th, but not in Ca. It is suggested from these results that the coagulopathies observed in these patients result from the activation of intravascular blood coagulation and fibrinolysis, and that vascular endothelial cell damage may play an important role in the activation in Th.