ABSTRACT
Serious bleeding and thrombotic complications are frequent in acute promyelocytic
leukemia (APL) and are major causes of morbidity and mortality. Microparticles (MP)
have been used to study the risk and pathogenesis of thrombosis in many malignant
disorders. To date, from published articles, this approach had not been applied to
APL. In this article, the hemostatic dysfunction in this disorder is briefly reviewed.
A study design to address this problem using MP is described. MP bearing tissue factor,
profibrinolytic factors (tissue plasminogen activator and annexin A2), and the antifibrinolytic
factor plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 were measured using flow cytometry.
The cellular origin of the MP was identified by specific cell surface markers. Comparison
of the various populations of MP was made between samples collected at the time of
diagnosis with those collected at molecular remission. Preliminary data suggest that
this approach is feasible.
KEYWORDS
Acute promyelocytic leukemia - bleeding - thrombosis - microparticles - tissue factor;
annexin A2
REFERENCES
h-kwaan@northwestern.edu
