Hypercoagulopathy after repeated injection of 5% ethanolamine oleate to sclerose esophageal varices

Hematological and coagulating parameters were examined in 53 patients in an attempt to find possible evidence of disseminated intravascular coagulation after intravascular injection of 5% ethanolamine oleate to sclerose esophageal varices. FDP-E in the peripheral blood measured by latex photometric immunoassay significantly increased from 111.2 ± 112.9 to 234.2 ± 178.3 ng/ml and 370.4 ± 189.5 ng/ml one hour after the first and second sessions of sclerotherapy, respectively (p < 0.01). The other parameters showed no significant change, except on the first day after sclerotherapy. The increase of FDP-E was closely related to fibrinopeptide A (r = 0.689, p < 0.01) and fibrinogen (r = 0.585, p < 0.05), before the sclerotherapy. As repeated intravariceal sclerotherapy over short time intervals can lead to a deterioration of the coagulating system, especially in patients with abnormal preoperative coagulopathy, latex photometric immunoassay for FDP-E is a rapid and useful method of monitoring alterations in the coagulating system.