Is there any effect of tumor burden on hemostatic parameters in cancer patients? A case-control study of hemostatic abnormalities and anticardiolipin antibodies in solid tumors.

Hemostatic complications are one of the leading causes of mortality in cancer patients. In the present study, we assessed the hemostatic parameters and anticardiolipin antibodies in patients with solid tumors (n = 104) and healthy controls (n = 25) and also find out whether the abnormalities in these hemostatic parameters vary related to tumor burden. Prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastine time, D-dimer, and fibrinogen as hemostatic parameters were determined by photo-optometric clot detection system, and serum anticardiolipin levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The plasma levels of fibrinogen, D-dimer, and serum anticardiolipin IgM levels in cancer patients were significantly higher compared with those in controls (P < .001, P = .001, and P = .01, respectively). Only fibrinogen levels were significantly higher in metastatic group than nonmetastatic group (P < .001 ). Hemostatic abnormalities that are detected in asymptomatic cancer patients may not give any clue about tumor burden or stage of the cancer patients.