Depression of functional and antigenic plasma antithrombin III (AT-III) due to therapy with L-asparaginase

✍ Scribed by Howard A. Liebman; Jerry K. Wada; Mary Jane Patch; William McGehee

• Book ID: 101326063
• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1982
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 451 KB
• Volume: 50
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0008-543X
• DOI: 10.1002/1097-0142(19820801)50:3<451::aid-cncr2820500312>3.0.co;2-4

✦ Synopsis

Eleven patients with leukemia and lymphoma were treated with 14 courses of E. coli L-asparaginase. Abnormalities of the coagulation screening tests and decreased fibrinogen levels were observed in all patients during treatment. Significant depressions of functional (mean 32%) and antigenic (mean 48%) antithrombin 111 were observed by day 14 of therapy. There was no laboratory evidence of intravascular coagulation during 1 1 / 14 courses of L-asparaginase. Crossed imrnunoelectrophoresis of plasma obtained at the antithrombin nadir did not demonstrate an abnormal pattern which can be associated with an abnormal antithrombin 111 or an increase in antithrombin 111-coagulation factor complexes. The major underlying mechanism of this depression is believed to be decreased hepatic synthesis, and the low levels of antithrombin 111 may be associated with an increased risk of thrombosis.

Cancer 50:451-456, 1982.

-ASPARAGINASE is an active antineoplastic agent for