Disseminated intravascular coagulation complicating acute lymphoblastic leukemia: A study of childhood and adult cases

A high incidence of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) in adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is reported. However, studies comprising both childhood and adult patients are sparse and the clinical relevance of DIC in ALL patients has been a conflicting issue. Coagulation profiles at presentation and within seven days after starting remission-induction therapy of 44 childhood and 51 adult ALL patients were studied. At presentation, two childhood (5%) and 11 adult (22%) patients had DIC (p