Primary Fibrinolysis in Acute Monocytic Leukemia

Authors

Ellis J. Van Slyck
Sundara B. K. Raman
Nalini Janakiraman

Abstract

We present the case of a young man with acute monocytic leukemia (French-American-British classification:M5) and systemic hyperfibrinolysis with severe bleeding. Although fibrinolysis is usually mild and secorulary to disseminated intravascular coagulation, its role as a primary and dominant factor in rare cases of leukemia warrants that its presence be sought as a cause of abnormal bleeding. Decreased serum plasminogen and increased serum plasmin determined by synthetic substrate assay and a negative protamine paracoagulation test are crucial findings. Use of high-dose epsilon-aminocaproic acid was effective in treating this complication. A transient increase in fibrinolytic activity coincident with the early effect of antileukemic treatment suggested that plasminogen activator and/or fibrinolytic protease substances were released from leukemic cells. Fibrinolytic activity subsequently disappeared with reduction in the population of leukemic cells.

Recommended Citation

Van Slyck, Ellis J.; Raman, Sundara B. K.; and Janakiraman, Nalini (1989) "Primary Fibrinolysis in Acute Monocytic Leukemia," Henry Ford Hospital Medical Journal : Vol. 37 : No. 1 , 33-36.
Available at: https://scholarlycommons.henryford.com/hfhmedjournal/vol37/iss1/9