Thromb Haemost 1982; 47(02): 116-117
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1657142
Original Article
Schattauer GmbH Stuttgart

Increased Factor VIII Associated Activities in Cushing's Syndrome: A Probable Hypercoagulable State

R Dal Bo Zanon
The University of Padua Medical School, Institute of Medical Semeiotics and Second Chair of Medicine, Padua, Italy
,
L Fornasiero
The University of Padua Medical School, Institute of Medical Semeiotics and Second Chair of Medicine, Padua, Italy
,
M Boscaro
The University of Padua Medical School, Institute of Medical Semeiotics and Second Chair of Medicine, Padua, Italy
,
G Cappellato
The University of Padua Medical School, Institute of Medical Semeiotics and Second Chair of Medicine, Padua, Italy
,
F Fabris
The University of Padua Medical School, Institute of Medical Semeiotics and Second Chair of Medicine, Padua, Italy
,
A Girolami
The University of Padua Medical School, Institute of Medical Semeiotics and Second Chair of Medicine, Padua, Italy
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received 14 September 1981

Accepted 28 January 1982

Publication Date:
13 July 2018 (online)

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Summary

Thirteen women and 2 men affected by Cushing’s syndrome were investigated. The following parameters were used: plasma and urinary cortisol levels, factor VIII assay (antigen, activity and von Willebrand factor) together with other coagulative assays.

Samples were taken before surgery or before medical and/or radiation therapy and every 30–50 days after treatment and continued for 11 months. Cortisol and factor VIII were increased before treatment and decreased slowly after treatment to become normal in 3–4 months. Other clotting tests did not show significant changes. It seems that high plasma cortisol levels may stimulate the production of factor VIII. Patients with Cushing’s syndrome often exhibit thromboembolic complications after surgery. It is likely that the clotting abnormalities responsible for such complications is the increased factor VIII activities level.