ON THE THROMBOELASTOGRAPHIC CHANGES FROM THE EFFECT OF RADIOTHERAPY OF UTERINE AND TUBAL NEOPLASIA

A thromboelastographic investigation was made of changes in blood coagulability caused by irradiation of 15 patients aged 46--76 yr for treatment of either uterine cervical carcinoma, adenocarcinoma of the body of the uterus, or carcinoma of the fallopian tubes. Fractional xray doses of 200 r were given, with total doses up to 12000 r, and elastograms were made for each patient after receiving doses of 2000, 6000, and 12000 r. In general, the results showed an increasing hypocoagulability of blood as irradiation dosage mounted. Progressive significant changes were noted in the parameters of the elastograms: time of reaction (r), time of formation of coagulum (k), and max amplitude (ma). The value of r increased according to a regression coefficient of 0.136 plus or minus 0.010 (standard deviation) per 1000 r; k also increased, according to a coefficient of 0.123 plus or minus 0.028 per 1000 r. The value of ma fell during treatment, by a coefficient of --0.918 plus or minus 0.17. An inverse proportionality was seen between ma and the values of r and k. This is represented by the thromboelastographic index (TI), obtained by dividing ma by the sum of r and k. TI declined during therapy, accordingmore » to a regression coefficient of -0.211 plus or minus 0.022. The data do not pernait tracing the cause of this radiation-induced hypocoagulability to deficiency of any particular clotting factor. (BBB)« less