Evidence of activation of coagulation was sought in serial plasma samples from 25 ABMT candidates with malignant lymphoma admitted for bone marrow harvesting: 10 females and 15 males, median age 41 years (range 27-58 years). Nineteen patients had non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and six had Hodgkin's disease. Of those with NHL, 14 had high-grade and five low- grade disease. The plasma levels of markers of activation (prothrombin fragment 1 + 2, thrombin-antithrombin complexes, fibrinopeptide A and fibrinmonomers) increased significantly (P < 0.001) in association with harvesting. Except for fibrinopeptide A, the indicators of activation were still significantly elevated 24 h after marrow aspiration. Beta-thromboglobulin, a marker of the platelet release reaction, also increased significantly (P < 0.01). Four out of nine patients in whom a long-term central venous catheter was inserted just after marrow aspiration, developed catheter-related deep vein thrombosis, verified venographically, shortly after harvesting. These results suggest that patient with malignant lymphoma undergoing marrow harvesting develop a hypercoagulable state, and that insertion of a central intravenous catheter immediately after marrow harvesting should be avoided to prevent the development of symptomatic deep vein thrombosis.