Factor VIII-related antigen (von Willebrand factor antigen) in patients with prostatic disease

Factor VIII-related antigen (FVIIIRAg) (von Willebrand factor antigen) in the serum of patients with prostate cancer (PCa), other prostatic and non-prostatic diseases was quantitated by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Significant (P<0.05) differences were noted between the level of FVIIIRAg in PCa and patients with other diseases of the prostate, as well as in those with other than prostatic disease. Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), characterized in part, by increases of fibrin and fibrin degradation products, occurs under a variety of circumstances, and is certainly not pathognomonic for PCa, nor prostatic disease in general. However, circumstances favoring the occurrence of DIC in PCa may increase consumption of the FVIII complex and stimulate the synthesis and release of FVIIIRAg from vascular endothelial cells resulting in increased levels of circulating FVIIIRAg. Pending further studies and the identification of other mechanisms, the foregoing is thought to provide an initial explanation for the present observations, which may prove to be of prognostic value.