[Association of acute leukemia with disseminated intravascular coagulation in adults. Analysis of 14 cases].

The association of acute leukemia (AL) and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) in 89 patients with a de novo diagnosis of AL made in our center during the last 8 years was retrospectively evaluated. DIC was demonstrated in 14 patients (15.7%) (7 AML-M3, 1 AML-M3, 1 AML-M2, 1 AML-M4, 2 AML-M5, and 2 ALL-L1). In 5 of them ICD was diagnosed after the beginning of chemotherapy. The factors predisposing to the development of DIC were: 1) the type of AL (p less than 0.01), as 70% of AML-M3 had DIC; 2) the intensity of granulation in leukemia cells (p less than 0.004); 3) the presence of Auer's rods and/or splinters in these cells, and 4) the presence of hemorrhagic diathesis (p less than 0.007). Eight of the 14 patients with DIC received heparin at a prophylactic dosage. No significant differences in the clinical course were in the group of patients with DIC who received heparin and in those who did not, excepting that in the former the platelet requirements were higher (p less than 0.005). Mortality rate during the first month was higher in the group of AL with DIC than in AL without DIC (p less than 0.025). Long term mortality was similar in both groups. The control of hemostasis is fundamental in AL, even in those patients without DIC at the time of diagnosis. The administration of blood derivatives has a high priority in AL with DIC. The role of heparin is still controversial.