HYPERCOAGULABLE STATE AND DISSEMINATED INTRAVASCULAR COAGULATION FOLLOWING AN EFFECTIVE CHEMOTHERAPY IN TUMOR-BEARING RATS

Objective To detect the changes in blood coagulation system and clarif y the related mechanisms of chemotherapy-induced disseminated intravas cular coagulation. Methods Changes in blood coagulation system and imm unohistochemistry for fibrinogen were investigated in six groups of ra ts designed for different purposes.Results Decreased platelet count, p rolonged prothrombin time and active partial thromboplastin time, elev ated fibrinogen level, and decreased antithrombin were observed in the rats receiving a newly developed chemotherapy (NDC group), in which m itomycin C was administered intravenously together with angiotensin. A ccumulation of fibrinogen and microthrombi in the blood vessels of mul tiple organs were also found in the NDC group by immunohistochemistry and histopathological examination. Conclusions Rapid reduction of tumo r mass induced by an effective chemotherapy could cause hypercoagulabl e state and disseminated intravascular coagulation.