Purpose: To investigate the relationship between coagulation function and prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients.
Methods: 539 patients who were admitted to our hospital for the first time from December 2008 to December 2013 and pathologically diagnosed as NSCLC were enrolled in this study (study group), while 80 healthy persons served as controls (control group). Morning fasting venous blood samples were collected for coagulation function indexes, such as prothrombin time (PT), prothrombin time activity (PTA), international normalized ratio (INR), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), fibrinogen (Fib), D-dimer (D-D) and platelet count (PLT) and the coagulation function and survival rate were compared.
Results: All coagulation function indexes (PT, PTA, INR, APTT, Fib, D-D and PLT) in the study group patients were significantly different compared with the control group. PTA and APTT in the control group were longer compared with the study group, and PT in the study group was significantly longer compared with control group. No obvious correlation between age and the coagulation function indexes was found. Gender correlated significantly to PT, PTA, INR and APTT. Fib and PLT levels in stage I-II NSCLC patients were significantly higher than those in stage III-IV NSCLC patients. Fib level increased, PT and INR were prolonged and PTA declined significantly and patient survival rate was significantly reduced.
Conclusion: Most NSCLC patients have abnormal coagulation function, and each coagulation index may be used to judge the prognosis as well as survival of such patients.