Evaluation of hypercoagulability after remission induction chemotherapy of acute leukemia.

In 20 patients with acute leukemia the thrombin-mediated fibrin monomer complexes (SFMC) were determined before and after remission induction chemotherapy for several weeks to assess the extent of hypercoagulability. Increased levels of SFMC were observed in patients with high leukocyte cell counts after induction chemotherapy which may reflect the release of thromboplastic material from destructed leukemic cells. Patients with low leukocyte counts showed only a moderate increase in SFMC. A low concentration of antithrombin III (< 20 mg/100 ml) or a drop from a previously normal value was a prognostic unfavorable sign. An elevated level of plasmin-mediated fibrin-split-products could not be related to the course of therapy.