[Cerebral ischemic accidents and chronic disseminated intravascular coagulation of cancerous origin]

Abstract

Cerebral infarcts in 3 patients revealed the presence of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIVC) of cancerous origin before any clinical manifestations of the neoplasm. Neurologic manifestations of these consumption coagulopathies almost constantly produce a picture of diffuse encephalopathy, expression of disseminated microinfarcts; however, transient or constituted focalized ischemic accidents by occlusion of a medium sized artery are also possible, and this in the absence of non-bacterial thrombotic endocarditis. Biologic diagnosis of DIVC is not always simple, and screening tests (platelet count, prothrombin and fibrinogen levels) can remain within normal limits during chronic forms, as a result of a subjacent inflammatory syndrome, frequently associated with cancer. Two other specific serum tests are therefore of fundamental interest: assay of fibrin degradation products and tests for soluble complexes.