Serum thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor levels in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma

Multiple myeloma has been associated with the development of thromboembolic events. Thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) is a carboxypeptidase B-like proenzyme, which potently inhibits fibrinolysis. The purpose of the present study was to assess the TAFI levels in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma. Twenty-seven newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients (16 women and 11 men) and 27 age-matched healthy individuals (14 women and 13 men) were included in the study. Serum TAFI levels were significantly increased in patients with multiple myeloma (46 +/- 13. 3 vs. 36. 6 +/- 9.7 mu g/ml) compared with healthy individuals. Serum TAFI levels were negatively correlated with serum albumin (CC: -0.453, P<0.05) and hemoglobin levels (CC: -0.392, P<0.05) and positively correlated with the beta-2 microglobulin levels (CC: 0.524, P<0.05). In this study, we observed significantly elevated TAFI levels in patients with multiple myeloma and higher serum TAFI levels were suggested to be associated with higher disease stage. With these results, a possible role of elevated TAFI levels in thromboembolic manifestations in the course of multiple myeloma can be suggested. Blood Coagul Fibrinolysis 22:260-263 (C) 2011 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.