Antithrombin III

Clinical significance:

Antithrombin (AT), is the most important qualitative inhibitor of blood coagulation. The importance of antithrombin III in the regulation of coagulation is confirmed by the increased risk of venous thromboembolism in peopleb with AT III deficiency.

Reasons for decreased antithrombin III activity: congenital deficiencyr, severe liver damage, protein loss syndromes (nephrotic syndrome, burns), DIC (disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome), sepsis, extensive surgery, hormonal contraception, treatment with intravenous unfractionated heparin, somere cancers.

Reasons for increased AT III activity: treatment with oral anticoagulants, cholestasis, smokingw, inflammation, hypergammaglobulinemia. Determination of AT III activity is recommended in clinical situations such as venous thrombosis without an identifiable cause or in a patient with a family history of thrombosis, recurrent venous thrombosis, thrombosis developing during pregnancy, habitual miscarriages or stillbirths.

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