The aim of this study was to investigate whether abnormalities in the fibrinolytic system and in the naturally occurring anticoagulant proteins could contribute to the thrombotic risk in essential thrombocythemia. Euglobulin lysis time, fibrin plate lysis area, tissue plasminogen activator antigen, and activity and plasminogen activator inhibitor antigen were measured before and after venous occlusion in a group of 16 patients with essential thrombocythemia and in 16 healthy age and sex matched controls. In addition, resting levels of antithrombin 111, D-dimer, prothrombin fragment 1 + 2, and protein C and S were assessed. The results were related to the presence or absence of a thrombotic history.
The results demonstrated that the patients had a significantly elevated fibrin plate lysis area and significantly decreased plasminogen activator antigen, both at baseline and after venous occlusion. They also had significantly decreased levels of plasma protein C and total protein S. There was a modest, non-significant elevation in the plasma concentration of D-Dimer and F 1 + 2. Those patients with a history of thrombosis had significantly lower protein C levels compared with individuals without a thrombotic history.
We conclude that patients with essential thrombocythemia have evidence of activated fibrinolysis in the resting state and after stimulation. This, and the decreased levels of protein C and total protein S, may be secondary to chronic clinically occult thrombosis occurring in myeloproliferative disorders.