Background: We previously showed that the prothrombin time (PT), but not activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), is correlated with serum immunoglobulin level in patients with plasma cell neoplasms.
Methods: To determine if the observed effect of serum immunoglobulins on PT was reagent and/or method dependent, PT and APTT were measured in plasma samples obtained from patients referred to the Myeloma Institute using mechanical (STAR Evolution; Diagnostica Stago) and optical clot detection (ACL TOP 500 analyzer; Instrumentation Laboratory) and manufacturer provided reagents.
Results: A total of 97 patients were included in this study. Twelve patients had abnormal coagulation test results. An isolated prolonged PT was found in 8 patients and an isolated prolonged PTT was detected in 4 patients.
Conclusion: The PT, but not APTT, was positively correlated with serum paraprotein level and this correlation was observed regardless of the reagents and instrumentation used to assess clot time.
Keywords: Prothrombin time; plasma cell dyscrasia; serum immunoglobulin.
© 2017 by the Association of Clinical Scientists, Inc.