Can Biomarkers of Coagulation, Platelet Activation, and Inflammation Predict Venous Thromboembolism in Patients with Haematological Malignancies?

BACKGROUND: The incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in haematological malignancies varies according to the type and grade of the disease and clinical variables, and there is a need to develop a tool to predict the occurrence of VTE in cancer patients at diagnosis to tailor prophylactic anticoagulation use during treatment. OBJECTIVE: To study the incidence of VTE in haematological malignancies and clarify whether vascular and inflammatory biomarkers could be used as predictors of VTE in those patients. METHODS: This was a prospective observational cohort study. Hypercoagulability and inflammatory biomarkers were assayed in a group of 171 patients with haematological malignancies at diagnosis. These markers included (1) coagulation and fibrinolysis activation markers (D-dimer, fibrinogen, antithrombin, plasminogen activator inhibitor 1), (2) endothelial and platelet activation markers (von Willebrand factor and soluble P-selectin), and (3) inflammatory markers (tumour necrosis factor αand interleukin 6). The end point was mortality or symptomatic VTE. RESULTS/CONCLUSION: The incidence of symptomatic VTE was 7%. None of the tested biomarkers showed statistical significance as predictors for the occurrence of VTE in haematological malignancies. However, there were statistically significant associations between the occurrence of VTE and central venous access device insertion, the prothrombin time, and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate. An ESR above 106.5 mm/h is associated with increased VTE occurrence.

Can biomarkers of coagulation, platelet activation, and inflammation predict mortality in patients with hematological malignancies?

BACKGROUND: Patients with cancer commonly demonstrate laboratory evidence for hypercoagulability. Coagulation and inflammation play a role in the pathophysiology of hematological malignancies and the correlation between hypercoagulability and inflammation with tumor outcomes and the patient's prognosis are well studied. OBJECTIVE: To identify an association between hemostasis activation, fibrinolysis and inflammation with mortality in patients with hematological malignancies to determine their prognostic significance. METHODS: This study is a prospective observational cohort study; Hypercoagulability and inflammatory biomarkers including:(1) Coagulation and fibrinolysis activation Markers (D-dimer, Fibrinogen, Antithrombin, plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 [PAI-1]);(2) Endothelium and platelet activation Markers (von Willebrand Factor [vWF], soluble P-selectin); and (3) Inflammation Markers (Tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-α], Interleukin-6 [IL-6]) were assayed on a group of 171 patients with hematological malignancies at time of diagnosis. They have been followed up for an average period of 416.8 days with an endpoint of mortality. RESULTS: Sixty patients died during follow up. There were statistically significant associations between Plasma cell dyscrasias mortality and ECOG performance status (P value:<0.005), Hemoglobin level (P value: 0.04), serum Albumin level (P value: 0.001), vWF (P value: 0.006) and IL-6 (P value 0.015), and between lymphoproliferative disorders mortality and presence of B symptoms (P value: 0.02), ECOG performance status (P value:<0.02), serum Albumin level (P value: 0.038), Antithrombin (P value: 0.004). CONCLUSION: Some biomarkers of coagulation and inflammation showed statistically significant associations with plasma cell dyscrasias mortality (vWF and IL-6) and lymphoproliferative disorders mortality (Antithrombin) and potentially could be used as prognostic markers.

Factor V Leiden 1691G/A and prothrombin gene 20210G/A polymorphisms as prothrombotic markers in adult Egyptian acute leukemia patients.

Factor V Leiden 1691G/A and prothrombin gene 20210G/A mutations are the most common genetic defects leading to thrombosis. This work aimed to study the FV Leiden and the prothrombin gene polymorphism in adult Egyptian patients with acute leukemia and their importance in thrombophilia screening. The study included 76 patients with acute leukemia and 100 healthy controls. Genotyping was done by real-time polymerase chain reaction technique. For factor V Leiden, the frequency of G/A mutation conferred more than 2.5-fold of increased risk of (OR 2.639 95 % CI 1.045-6.669). The frequency of factor V Leiden combined (G/A + A/A) genotypes conferred 2.83-fold of increased risk (OR 2.828, CI 1.13-7.075), The A allele conferred almost threefold increased risk (OR 2.824, 95 % CI 1.175-6.785). Despite higher frequency in patients compared to controls, there was no risk of association between prothrombin gene mutation and acute leukemia in adult Egyptians nor was there between combined genotypes of prothrombin gene mutation and factor V Leiden.