title: Role of fibrinolytic and clotting parameters in the diagnosis of liver veno-occlusive disease after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in a pediatric population.
abstract: Hepatic veno-occlusive disease (VOD) is a severe complication after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Recent studies, mainly in adults receiving HSCT, have identified an increase in the plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) as a possible marker of VOD. To confirm this finding, the fibrinolytic, coagulation and liver function parameters were assayed before and weekly for 1 month after 61 HSCT performed in 53 consecutive children. Non-VOD patients had a slight increase in t-PA antigen, fibrinogen and P-selectin levels, as well as a mildly longer aPTT and a drop in antithrombin after HSCT. The 6 children with VOD (9.84%) had an early and significant increase in PAI-1 antigen and activity (p<0.0001), t-PA antigen (p<0.0001) and D-dimer (p<0.01) levels, and a decrease in plasminogen, alpha 2-antiplasmin and PT emerged 2(+/-1) days before the clinical diagnosis of VOD by comparison with mean post-HSCT values in the non-VOD patients. Significant differences were also detected for these parameters and antithrombin levels between non-VOD and VOD patients soon after the clinical onset of VOD, whereas the rise in bilirubin levels became significant only later on. In conclusion, variations in fibrinolytic test findings after HSCT, and PAI-1 in particular, may facilitate the early diagnosis of VOD in pediatric patients after HSCT.
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Padua Medical School, Italy. mtsart@unipd.it
authors.forename: Maria Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Sartori
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Spiezia
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cesaro
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Messina
authors.forename: Myriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Paris
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pillon
authors.forename: Graziella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Saggiorato
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pagnan
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Girolami
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zanesco
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cella
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001777:Blood Coagulation; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / Q000032:analysis; D005342:Fibrinolysis; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D006504:Hepatic Veno-Occlusive Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D010314:Partial Thromboplastin Time; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / Q000097:blood; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1; C036309:fibrin fragment D; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator