Coagulation studies in leptospirosis.

ABSTRACT

Coagulation and serum F.D.P. studies in 10 leptospirosis patients (5, L. bataviae, 2, L. autumnalis, 2, L. australis, and 1, L. akiyami A.)showed prolongation of prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time and thrombin clotting time, slight low platelet count, depletion of factor V and slightly high serum F.D.P. in only four cases. Four cases had bleeding and one case died because of severe haemorrhage but with only slight changes in coagulation factors and slightly high serum F.D.P. These findings suggested that the damage of capillary endothelium was more pronounced than the coagulopathy which may be due to liver cell damage.