Coagulation and fibrinolysis activation markers in prostatic carcinoma patients.

In 49 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia, 24 metastatic prostatic carcinoma patients all under palliative hormonal treatment, 17 untreated prostatic carcinoma patients without metastases and 14 untreated prostatic carcinoma patients with metastases, plasma levels of thrombin-antithrombin III complex, D-dimer and plasmin-alpha2-antiplasmin were determined. The coagulation activation marker thrombin-antithrombin III complex did not show any significant difference between the different patient groups. Of the fibrinolysis markers, D-dimer levels were elevated in both metastatic groups compared to the non-metastatic group and the benign prostatic hyperplasia group. Surprisingly, the levels of the other fibrinolysis marker, plasmin-alpha2-antiplasmin, showed no significant difference. The nature of these findings is discussed and related to other relevant literature. The general conclusion is that fibrinolysis may not play such a prominent role in prostatic carcinoma as described and expected.