Hemostatic disorders in 25 patients with limited and uncomplicated thyroid and breast cancer: prophylactic and therapeutic considerations.

In order to evaluate the efficacy of an anticoagulant treatment in neoplasia, we have looked for the existence and the possible role of hemostatic unbalance in patients affected by limited and uncomplicated thyroid and breast cancer by examining hemostasis in 25 patients. Our data allowed us to evidentiate an accelerated and increased fibrinoformation associated with the presence of plasminogen's activation inhibitor which overlaps the increased plasminogen's activators. We evidentiated also an increase of platelet functions in vitro and of their activation in vivo. These findings support the hypothesis of a possible role played by hemostasis alterations in the pathogenesis of thromboembolic complications, cancer growth and/or metastatization, and justify prophylactic and therapeutic anticoagulation.