Objective: To study the changes of hemostatic molecular markers in acute leukemia (AL) for elucidating their clinical significance.
Methods: A series of hemostatic molecular markers, including TF, TFPI, TAT, PAP, u-PA and u-PAR were measured in 82 acute leukemia.
Results: The plasma levels of TF, TAT, u-PA and u-PAR were elevated significantly at diagnosis in all AL patients tested, while TFPI, PAP did only in AML. After treatment, TF and TAT remained high in AML, u-PA and u-PAR were still high in un-remission patients. PAP and u-PA remarkably elevated in patients with severe hemorrhage.
Conclusions: There existed hemostatic abnormality as well as hyperfibrinolysis, which varied with leukemia types and was ameliorated with clinical improvement. The measurement of TF, TAT and PAP may provide useful information for the diagnosis of DIC. u-PA and u-PAR may be considered as a useful indicator for prognosis. Patient with severe hemorrhage should be treated with antifibrinolysis drugs. The prevention of hypercoagulability after treatment should be kept in mind.