The effect of L-asparaginase on plasma coagulation factors in acute lymphoblastic leukemia

✍ Scribed by Norma K. C. Ramsay; Peter F. Coccia; William Krivit; Mark E. Nesbit; J. Roger Edson

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1977
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 328 KB
• Volume: 40
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0008-543X
• DOI: 10.1002/1097-0142(197710)40:4<1398::aid-cncr2820400406>3.0.co;2-#

✦ Synopsis

Serial coagulation studies were performed in 26 pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia during initial induction therapy with vincristine, prednisone, and L-asparaginase. Prolongation of screening coagulation tests was frequent: prothrombin time (in 16 of 26 patients), partial thromboplastin time (23/26) and thrombin time (21/26). In all 26 patients fibrinogen levels fell below .20 g/100 ml and 16 had levels below .10 g/100 ml. Sixteen patients had plasma coagulation factor assays performed. In these 16 patients, Factor XI was less than 40% in 14 and Factor XI was less than 70% in 9, with only a few scattered low levels of other factors. There were no clinical bleeding episodes. Coagulation abnormalities returned to normal at the completion of L-asparaginase therapy while the patients remained on vincristine and prednisone.