BACKGROUNDThe prethrombotic state can be observed in advanced lung cancer patients. The aim of this study is to determine the dynamic changes and significance of antithrombin and fibrinolytic function in advanced lung cancer patients during chemotherapy.

METHODSAntithrombin activity (AT:A), fibrinogen (FIB), D-dimer (D-D), plasminogen activity (PLG), tissue plasminogen activator antigen (t-PA:Ag) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 antigen (PAI-1:Ag) were measured in 33 advanced lung can-cer patients before and after chemotherapy, and 30 healthy people as controls.

RESULTSBefore chemotherapy, lung cancer patients had significantly lower AT:A (P < 0.01) and higher D-D, PLG:A, PAI-1:Ag and FIB (P < 0.01) than those of controls. There was no significant difference in t-PA:Ag between lung cancer patients and controls (P > 0.05). During the chemotherapy, AT:A, D-D and t-PA:Ag of lung can-cer patients remarkably decreased (P < 0.01), and PLG:A, PAI-1:Ag and FIB remarkably increased (P < 0.01) compared to those before chemotherapy.

CONCLUSIONSChemotherapy may enhance the prethrombotic state in advanced lung cancer patients. Dynamic observation of antithrombin and fibrinolytic function during chemotherapy might be useful for preventing pulmonary hemorrhage and pulmonary infarct and estimating prognosis of those patients.