Minimal Heparin Cofactor Activity in Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation and Cirrhosis

Abstract

An assay technic for measuring heparin cofactor activity in which antithrombin activity can be assessed without plasma attenuation even in the presence of therapeutic levels of heparin is presented. Heparin-activated anti-thrombin activity was markedly depressed in plasmas of four patients with disseminated intravascular coagulation and in ten patients with cirrhosis. Residual activity in those plasmas appeared qualitatively normal, and no inhibitor (platelet factor IV activity) was observed. Plasmas from patients with disseminated intravascular coagulation and cirrhosis required more heparin to obtain in vitro clotting time prolongation equivalent to normal.

Coagulation parameters and heparin levels in open-heart surgery

“…Impairment of coagulation parameters is also observed in disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). In our patients, antithrombin III levels were not reduced as much as known from the literature [2]. All patients recovered from the open-heart surgery--except for the patient mentioned above.…”

Adaptation of Synthetic Peptide Substrate-Based Assays on a Discrete Analyzer

“…58 In addition, a DIC process often occurs. 18,79 In 14 cirrhotic patients, we found an immunologic AT III level of 56.5 ± 21.5%, and an AT III activity of 58 ± 22%. In a recent study 33 clinical and biologic data from cirrhotic patients were analyzed by discriminant analysis.…”

Reduced antithrombin III levels during L‐asparaginase therapy

“…An analogous situation may exist for the normal newborn infant [33] and for some patients with familial antithrombin deficiency who are treated with oral anticoagulants [30]. acquired conditions in which antithrombin 111 levels are low: severe liver disease [26, 341, disseminated intravascular coagulation [25,34] , nephrosis [35] , and following other drugs such as oral contraceptives [36].…”