Serum antithrombin III and alpha-2-antiplasmin concentration in patients with lung carcinoma.

Serum antithrombin III and alpha-2-plasmin inhibitor concentrations has been evaluated in 26 patients with lung carcinoma. We observed a twofold decrease in antithrombin III level and no differences between test and control groups in alpha-2-plasmin inhibitor concentrations. Evidently, the decreased antithrombin III level may reflect its consumption because of enhanced plasma thrombin activity, whereas normal alpha-2-plasmin inhibitor may result in no induction of secondary fibrinolysis followed by the stimulation of the coagulation system or no conditions for primary increased fibrinolysis. It seems possible, that the antithrombin III level in the serum may at least partly reflect the tendency for hypercoagulability and spreading of cancer.