The evaluation of fibrinogen behavior in Hodgkin's disease: correlation with clinical stage.

Forty-four patients (9 stage II, 15 sage III, 7 stage IV, and 13 in complete remission) with Hodgkin's disease without any clinical coagulation disorder were studied. Fibrinogen behavior was evaluated by measuring fibrinogen level and using 1251-fibrinogen, the half-life, survival and fibrinogen turnover. Platelet count and fibrinogen/fibrin degradation products (FDP) were also assayed. The fibrinogen half-life, survival and turnover were significantly longer and faster, than those found in 10 healthy subjects, in stage II, III and IV subjects (p less than 0.001, p less than 0.001, p less than 0.05 for stage II; p less than 0.001, p less than 0.001, p less than 0.001 for stage III; p less than 0.005, p less than 0.005, p less than 0.001 for stage IV, respectively). In most cases, FDP values were within the normal range, although they were significantly higher than those of control group in stages III and IV. Intravascular coagulation and fibrinolysis were not found in the 13 patients with complete remission. In these patients, the behavior of fibrinogen was normal, suggesting that the parameters studied are related to the presence of the tumor, and can be useful in monitoring the state of remission.