Disseminated intravascular coagulation as the presenting sign of metastatic prostate cancer. 2006

Ignacio Duran, and Ian F Tannock
Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Princess Margaret Hospital and University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.

Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is an acquired coagulation disorder that may occur in a wide variety of clinical conditions. Suspicion of DIC should lead to a differential diagnosis that includes primary fibrinolysis and other bleeding diatheses such as thrombocytopenias of diverse etiology. Confirmation of the diagnosis of DIC should always prompt a search for an underlying medical disorder, including sepsis, severe trauma, solid and hematological malignancies, obstetrical complications, and vascular disorders. Here, we describe an unusual case of acute bleeding and DIC as the presenting manifestation of metastatic prostate cancer in a 60-year-old man. Treatment with a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist and a short course of an antiandrogen, together with supportive measures (i.e., clotting factors, heparin, and platelets), led to normalization of all coagulation parameters within 1 week, and to clinical improvement and decline in the serum level of prostate-specific antigen (PSA). We discuss the pathogenesis, differential diagnosis, and association of DIC with prostate cancer along with the management of this condition.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D011471 Prostatic Neoplasms Tumors or cancer of the PROSTATE. Cancer of Prostate,Prostate Cancer,Cancer of the Prostate,Neoplasms, Prostate,Neoplasms, Prostatic,Prostate Neoplasms,Prostatic Cancer,Cancer, Prostate,Cancer, Prostatic,Cancers, Prostate,Cancers, Prostatic,Neoplasm, Prostate,Neoplasm, Prostatic,Prostate Cancers,Prostate Neoplasm,Prostatic Cancers,Prostatic Neoplasm
D003937 Diagnosis, Differential Determination of which one of two or more diseases or conditions a patient is suffering from by systematically comparing and contrasting results of diagnostic measures. Diagnoses, Differential,Differential Diagnoses,Differential Diagnosis
D004211 Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation A disorder characterized by procoagulant substances entering the general circulation causing a systemic thrombotic process. The activation of the clotting mechanism may arise from any of a number of disorders. A majority of the patients manifest skin lesions, sometimes leading to PURPURA FULMINANS. Consumption Coagulopathy,Coagulation, Disseminated Intravascular,Disseminated Coagulation, Intravascular,Intravascular Coagulation, Disseminated,Intravascular Disseminated Coagulation,Coagulation, Intravascular Disseminated,Coagulations, Disseminated Intravascular,Coagulations, Intravascular Disseminated,Coagulopathies, Consumption,Coagulopathy, Consumption,Consumption Coagulopathies,Disseminated Coagulations, Intravascular,Disseminated Intravascular Coagulations,Intravascular Coagulations, Disseminated,Intravascular Disseminated Coagulations
D006727 Hormone Antagonists Chemical substances which inhibit the function of the endocrine glands, the biosynthesis of their secreted hormones, or the action of hormones upon their specific sites. Antagonists, Hormone
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man

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