FIBRINOGEN LEVELS CORRELATE WITH STAGE OF DISEASE IN PATIENTS WITH ESOPHAGEAL CANCER

Background A hypercoagulable state is well recognized in association w ith cancer and results in a greatly increased risk of thromboembolic d isease during surgery in these patients. This study examines routine l aboratory measurements of coagulation and attempts to correlate these with disease stage in patients with oesophageal cancer. Methods Fibrin ogen concentration, platelet count and routine coagulation tests were examined before operation in a consecutive group of 73 patients with o esophageal carcinoma. All patients were staged according to standard U nion Internacional Contra la Cancrum criteria. Results The fibrinogen concentration was significantly higher in patients with oesophageal ca rcinoma than in age- and sex-matched control patients with benign dise ase (P < 0.005). Fibrinogen concentration was higher in patients with greater depth of invasion (P < 0.005) and those with metastatic diseas e (P < 0.01). Conclusion This study demonstrates a stage-dependent phe nomenon of hyperfibrinogenaemia in association with oesophageal carcin oma.