ATHENA II

Summary

Haemostasis; the process of blood clot formation, is dependent on a complex interaction of platelets, coagulation factors in plasma, and endothelial cells in blood vessel walls.

One explanation for differences in bleeding rates between patients may be due to differences in the rate at which blood clots are broken down by fibrinolytic activity.

If differences in bleeding rates are due to differences in the levels of fibrinolytic activity, antifibrinolytic drugs may significantly reduce fibrinolysis and therefore reduce bleeding.

This preliminary study will provide an estimate of fibrinolytic activity in patients with haematological malignancies.