Do plasma D-dimer levels correlate with disease stage in colonic carcinoma?

Background: Hemostasis is deeply involved in tumour growth, angiogenesis and metastasis. Patients with cancer may harbor many alterations of hemostasis and these are multifaceted. The hemostatic changes have been correlated with bulk of tumour and overall patient survival. Aim: To assess the role of plasma D-dimer levels in correlating with the stage of the disease in patients with colonic carcinoma. Setting and Design : This study was a prospective study. Materials and Methods : Sixty-six cases with biopsy-proven diagnosis of adenocarcinoma colon over a period of two years were included. The baseline coagulation tests like platelet count, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time and plasma D-dimer levels were measured preoperatively in all cases. Results: The percentage of cases with increased D-dimer and fibrin degradation products (FDP) values were higher in the advanced disease when compared to limited disease. Statistical Analysis: Chi square test showed statistically significant difference when the results of D-dimer and FDP were compared across the four stages. When the results were compared between limited and advanced disease by the chi square and the Mann Whitney U test, they were found to be statistically significant. ( P < 0.05) Conclusion: This study shows that a direct correlation exists between D-dimer levels and disease stage in colorectal cancer and therefore D-dimer may provide useful supplementary information to the disease stage in colonic carcinoma

The Past and Present of Transfusion Medicine

BbOd transfusion has developed os a clinical nique. Its development has progressed from ignorance to science and from cruelty to civilization over hundreds Of years. Transfusion has mode great contribution {or saving lives ond expanding operation coverage. Blood letting wos Widely practiced for a variety Of conditions from the time Of Hippocrates and yet transfusion Only became a common place theropeutic intervention less thon pears 090. Although the association Of blood with life and vitality was recognized by primitive man, the transfusion Of wos not possible until Hervey described circulation in 1628. transfusion Of blood wos only one of the mo ny scientific competitions in Which thecitizensofFranceondEnglandengogedin 16005. This foundation for transfusion theropy that were built in 100 years later The developrnent Of transfusion medicine started from the attempts to transfuse blood in c nirnols in the 1 71b centu ry and the first fruits were seen in the half of century