Markers of activation of coagulation and fibrinolysis in patients with Cushing’s syndrome

Patients with active Cushing’s syndrome have an increased thrombotic tendency. We chose to reassess the mechanism underlying the thrombophilic state associated with this clinical condition using sensitive markers of coagulation and fibrinolysis activation in 17 patients with active disease. The results were compared with those obtained in 12 Cushing’s patients successfully treated by surgery and in 20 normal individuals. The general pattern of results in patients with active disease was the finding of increased levels of von Willebrand factor (VWF: Ag), a marker of enhanced metabolic function of endothelial cells (VWF:Ag 181±42 vs 110±43, p <0.001 in normal subjects), accompanied by signs of heightened thrombin and plasmin generation, expressed by high levels of thrombin-antithrombin (TAT 5.59±3.6 vs 3.06±0.92 ng/ml in controls, p <0.01) and plasmin-antiplasmin complexes (PAP 407±176 vs 245±67 ng/ml in controls, p <0.01). VWF:Ag and TAT values were significantly higher in hypertensive than in normotensive patients with active disease (205±40 vs 155±26 U/dl, p <0.05 and 7.49±3.7 vs 3.45±1.8, p <0.01, respectively). Plasma levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 were higher, though not to a statistically significant extent, in patients with active disease compared to controls (12.8±12.3 vs 5.6±7.4 IU/ml, NS) and positively correlated with body mass index ( r =0.66, p <0.01). After surgical control of Cushing’s syndrome, there was a partial or complete reversal of the abnormalities to values similar to those found in normal individuals. Our data suggest that the thrombophilic state present in patients with active Cushing’s syndrome is related to an enhanced metabolic function of endothelial cells; this in turn may be caused by an heightened production of thrombin with secondary hyperfibrinolysis. Primary prophylaxis with anticoagulants is recommended in these patients when they are exposed to a thrombophilic condition such as surgery.