Thoracic aortic thrombi and hypercoagulability.

This unusual report shows the association between thoracic aortic mural thrombus formation and the hypercoagulable state without concomitant disseminated intravascular coagulation. The patient's hypercoagulability was reflected by laboratory results that included elevated Factor VIII and fibrinogen levels, along with a decreased level of antithrombin III. The underlying cause was probably acute peritonitis, a condition associated with coagulopathy.