Association of Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time and Fibrinogen Level in Patients with Polycythemia Vera

Aims: To evaluate the Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (APTT) and fibrinogen levels in patients with Polycythemia vera (PV).

Study Design: Analytical, laboratory, hospital-based, cross sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: Hematology clinic at Fedail hospital Khartoum State, Sudan. From April to August 2016.

Methodology: Research protocol was approved by SUMASRI International Review Board (SIRB) at University of Medical Sciences And Technology (UMST), Sudan. A total of 19 patients (14 male, 5 female; mean age of 59 ±4 years ) were selected from PV patients who came to the hospital during study period and who met inclusion criteria and 29 samples were collected from healthy subjects as control. APTT and fibrinogen level were assayed. Statistical evaluation was performed by SPSS (version 20) using Student's t test and Pearson correlation tests.

Results: Patients with Polycythemia vera had shortened APTT (26.9±1.3s vs. 35.4±4.4 s); P <0.05) and higher fibrinogen (569±79 mg/dl vs. 290±96 mg/dl; P <0.05) values when compared with to normal control. Strong negative correlation between the Fibrinogen level and shortened APTT in PV was seen (R -0.766, p<0.05).

Conclusion: This study indicates that, the patients with PV were prone to develop hypercoagulable state. Therefore, routine examinations of APTT and fibrinogen are significant to assess coagulation abnormality in order to prevent PV-associated thrombosis.