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Microheterogeneity of antithrombin III: effect of single amino acid substitutions and relationship with functional abnormalities.

Microheterogeneity of antithrombin III (AT-III) was investigated by crossed immunoelectrofocusing (CIEF) on eleven molecular variants. A normal pattern was found in five variants while two different abnormal CIEF patterns were found in the other four and two variants, respectively. Point mutations causing a major pI change (exceeding 4.0) of the amino acid substituted lead to alterations in the overall microheterogeneity. The variants thus substituted share a first type of abnormal CIEF pattern with alterations throughout the pH range, regardless of the location of the mutation (reactive site and adjacent regions or heparin binding region). Minor amino acid pI changes in these regions do not alter the AT-III overall microheterogeneity, whatever the resulting functional defect. However, if the mutation is placed in the region around positions 404 or 429, then even minor changes of the amino acid pI seem able to alter the overall charge, leading to a second type of abnormal CIEF pattern with the main alteration at pH 4.8-4.6. Neuraminidase treatment leads to disappearance of microheterogeneity except for the variants with the Arg393 to Cys substitution. Addition of thrombin induces CIEF modifications specifically related to the functional defect. A normal formation of thrombin-antithrombin complexes induces a shift towards the more acid pH range, whereas in the variants substituted at the reactive site the CIEF pattern is substantially unaffected by thrombin; variants substituted at positions 382-384 show a maximal thrombin-induced increase of the isoforms at pI 4.8-4.6. Therefore mutant antithrombins with different functional abnormalities but sharing a common CIEF pattern were well distinguished.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Alanine↗

Ultrastructural localization of heparin to human mast cells of the MCTC and MCT types by labeling with antithrombin III-gold.

BACKGROUND: Mast cells derived from human skin and lung have been reported to produce heparin and chondroitin sulfate E proteoglycans. However, no information about the proteoglycans distribution among the different human mast cell types (MCTC and MCT) is available. Conjugates of antithrombin III-gold were used to assess the presence of heparin in both human mast cell subsets. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Thin sections of human and rodent tissues and dispersed cell preparations were labeled with the conjugate in the presence of saline, heparin, and chondroitin sulfates A and E and particle densities were measured over granules, perigranular regions, and extracellular space. Control sections were preincubated with heparinase, chondroitinase ABC, or buffer. RESULTS: Labeling with antithrombin III-gold particles was detected in essentially all granules of human mast cells in skin (predominantly MCTC type), lung alveolar wall, and bowel mucosa (predominantly MCT type), but was negligible over human eosinophils. Consistent with the known distribution of heparin in rodent mast cells, strong labeling was observed over rat peritoneal connective tissue type mast cells, but not over mucosal mast cells in bowel mucosa of Nippostrongylus brasiliensis-infected rats (which contain chondroitin sulfate di-B) nor over mouse PT-18 mast cells (which contain chondroitin sulfate E). Mast cell labeling was preferentially blocked by exogenous heparin, and virtually abolished by heparinase but not chondroitinase ABC preincubation. CONCLUSIONS: The data with rodent mast cells indicate that antithrombin III-gold labels cells that contain heparin, but not those that contain only over-sulfated chondroitin sulfates. Specificity of the procedure for detecting heparin is further demonstrated by inhibition of labeling after preincubation with heparinase and by competition with exogenous heparin. On this basis, we conclude that heparin is present in essentially all mast cells in normal skin, lung alveolar wall, and bowel mucosa. The presence of heparin in all human mast cells is different than for rodent mast cells, and probably accounts for the inability to clearly distinguish different human mast cell types from one another with histochemical stains based on proteoglycan content.

Animals↗

The effect of antithrombin III-independent thrombin inhibitors and heparin on fibrin accretion onto fibrin-coated polyethylene.

Prosthetic vascular grafts become coated with a layer of fibrin that contributes to graft thrombosis and occlusion. We compared the effect of antithrombin III-independent inhibitors of thrombin with heparin for their ability to prevent fibrin accretion onto a model of a vascular graft formed in vitro by coating polyethylene tubing with thrombin bound to a layer of polymerized fibrin. Equivalent antithrombin concentrations of heparin, D-Phe-Pro-Arg CH2Cl (PPACK), recombinant hirudin (r-hirudin), and Hirulog-1 were added to barium chloride-absorbed plasma containing radiolabelled fibrinogen. Whereas, PPACK and r-hirudin persistently inhibited fibrin accretion, the inhibition by heparin was transient. Hirulog-1 had no effect on early fibrin accretion and was actually associated with enhanced accretion at 30 min (control 11.7 +/- 2.0 micrograms fibrin/cm2; Hirulog-1, 18.4 +/- 3.5 micrograms fibrin/cm2, p < 0.001). Both Hirulog-1 and r-hirudin displaced radiolabelled thrombin from the fibrin surface. Whereas hirudin-thrombin complexes are stable, Hirulog-1 produces only transient inhibition of the displaced thrombin thereby accounting for the enhanced fibrin accretion with this anticoagulant. These studies show that the antithrombin III-independent inhibitors, r-hirudin and PPACK, are more effective inhibitors of fibrin accretion onto fibrin-coated polyethylene than heparin or Hirulog-1. In addition, they emphasize the importance of determining the ability of anticoagulants to displace thrombin from fibrin and to form stable thrombin-inhibitor complexes; lack of stability of thrombin-inhibitor complexes must be countered by levels of anticoagulant that are adequate to maintain its effectiveness.

Amino Acid Chloromethyl Ketones↗

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for thrombin-antithrombin III complexes in horses.

OBJECTIVES: To adapt and characterize a human ELISA kit to quantify thrombin-antithrombin III (TAT) complexes in horses, and to evaluate TAT as a marker for hypercoagulation in horses. ANIMALS: 29 clinically normal horses used as controls, and 4 ill horses used to evaluate assay for known causes of hypercoagulation. PROCEDURE: A commercially available human sandwich-type ELISA kit with 2 antibodies against human thrombin and antithrombin III that bind selectively to their corresponding TAT antigenic sites was used. Equine TAT standards were made from purified equine thrombin and antithrombin III. Proteins diluted in a phosphate-buffered saline solution containing 0.1% Tween and 1 U of heparin/ ml were used to establish standard curves. Reference intervals for TAT concentration in citrated equine plasma, and intra- and interassay coefficients of variation were determined. RESULTS: Mean +/- SD values were 3.95 +/- 1.93 micrograms/L, with median of 3.18 micrograms/L and range of 1.95 to 9.03 micrograms/ L. One horse with cecal perforation had TAT concentration of 174.30 micrograms/L, and a horse infused IV with endotoxin had TAT concentration of 62.98 micrograms/L 12 hours after infusion. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that human TAT ELISA kits can be used to measure TAT concentration in citrated equine plasma, and that TAT is a marker for hypercoagulation in horses. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Assays for equine TAT many help to further characterize the hypercoagulable state in horses.

Animals↗

Mortality and causes of death in inherited antithrombin deficiency.

To assess the contribution of inherited antithrombin deficiency to mortality, we investigated the causes of death in 14 families with inherited antithrombin deficiency. Between 1830 and 1994, 86 of 266 family members who had a probability of 0.5 or more for heterozygosity died. The causes of death were obtained for 58 of 66 deaths occurring between 1940 and 1994. Standardized mortality ratios (SMR) were calculated using mortality rates from the general population adjusted for age, sex and calendar period. The overall SMR was 0.90 from 1830 to 1994 (95% C.I. 0.72-1.11). From 1940 until 1994 44 men and 22 women died (SMR = 1.09, 95% C.I. 0.84-1.39; SMR men = 1.20, 95% C.I. 0.87-1.61; SMR women = 0.92, 95% C.I. 0.58-1.39). No excess mortality compared to the general population was found for cancer (14 deaths) or circulatory diseases (28 deaths). A slightly increased mortality caused by respiratory diseases (7 deaths, SMR = 1.68, 95% C.I. 0.68-3.47) seemed due to pneumonia (4 deaths, SMR = 2.86, 95% C.I. 0.78-7.32). Venous thromboembolic complications were listed once in association with a risk situation, and one other death could be attributed to fatal pulmonary embolism. Cerebral hemorrhages were listed three times. It could not be verified whether these hemorrhages were related to anticoagulant therapy; the frequency was slightly higher than the expected population figure (SMR = 1.49, 95% C.I. 0.31-4.36). The mean age of death for all causes was 64 years; the two fatal thromboembolic episodes occurred at age 20 and 30 years. The data show that antithrombin deficiency is associated with a normal survival and a low risk of fatal thromboembolic events. The use of long-term anticoagulant treatment in asymptomatic individuals should be considered carefully in view of the greater risk of fatal bleeding associated with long-term anticoagulant prophylaxis.

Adult↗

The activity of unfractionated heparin and low molecular weight heparins in rabbit plasma--the need for using absolute anti-factor Xa and antithrombin activities.

Rabbit being a common animal model to evaluate the antithrombotic effect of heparins, our purpose was to apply the heparin Standard Independent Unit (SIU) approach to rabbit plasma. To take into account the specificities of the enzymes we have measured the decay constants of factor Xa and of thrombin from autologous and heterologous origins, in presence and in absence of heparin. Different heparins or heparin fractions with a mean molecular weight from 1.7 to 10.5 kDa were used. We found that: a) the decay constants varied strongly between species and between enzymes; b) the decay constants of thrombin were always higher than those of factor Xa; c) the specific anti-factor Xa activity of heparins increased with the molecular weight and was 1.33 times higher when determined with bovine factor Xa than with rabbit factor Xa; d) the specific antithrombin activity of heparins also increased with the molecular weight but was similar when determined with rabbit and human thrombin; e) the specific anti-factor Xa activity was always lower than the specific antithrombin activity; f) the calibration of the heparins and heparin fractions against the 4th International Standard of Heparin expressed in International Units (IU) lead to a systematic overestimation of the anti-factor Xa activity and to an under-estimation of the antithrombin activity. These observations indicate that it may be very important to use the SIU approach and to know the accurate activities to better understand the mechanism of the antithrombotic activity of heparins in experimental models.

Animals↗

Antiplatelet and antithrombin therapies in the acute coronary syndromes.

The circulating platelet and the soluble coagulation protein thrombin play key roles in the thrombosis responsible for the acute coronary syndromes. The standard antiplatelet and antithrombin agents used today in patients with acute coronary syndromes are aspirin and heparin. Despite our experience with these agents, they both have significant limitations. A number of new antiplatelet drugs, including clopidogrel and the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa antagonists, have been investigated in recent large clinical trials and show significant promise both in patients undergoing angioplasty and those with acute coronary syndromes. The results of recent trials with new antithrombin agents have been less impressive. Low-molecular-weight heparins appear to be beneficial in patients with acute coronary syndromes. Recent trials with direct thrombin inhibitors in patients with acute coronary syndromes have demonstrated modest benefit, but also revealed their narrow therapeutic window and associated risk of bleeding. Further trials with novel antiplatelet and antithrombin agents in patients with acute coronary syndromes are ongoing.

Acute Disease↗

Clinical evaluation of the efficacy of an antithrombin agent "Argatroban" combined with exercise therapy on increase of the skeletal muscle blood flow.

Argatroban has selective antithrombin activity and widely used for treatment of ASO. In this study we investigated vasodilating activity of Argatroban besides antithrombin activity in ASO patients. Three patients who have undergone F-P bypasses previously which were all occluded received 10 mg or 20 mg of Argatroban per day intravenously for 4 weeks. Skin temperature were measured before and after administration of Argatroban at the point of 1, 2, 4 weeks which increased 2.3-6.0 degrees C after administration of Argatroban. Subjective symptoms were also improved and these patients became to be able to walk 1.5-3.3 km. These patients were also given PGE, intravenously, however, temperature increase was less than 1.1 degrees C. These results showed that Argatroban has not only antithrombin activity but also significant vasodilating activity resulting in increase of skeletal muscle blood flow.

Aged↗

Effect of estrogen-progestin hormonal replacement therapy on plasma antithrombin III of postmenopausal women.

BACKGROUND: This study was performed to evaluate antithrombin III levels in postmenopausal women receiving hormonal replacement treatment. METHODS: It is a prospective randomized study concerning 19 postmenopausal patients, aged 40 to 65 years, who received either continuous daily oral equine conjugated estrogen 0.625 mg (group A, N=10) or daily transdermal 17beta-estradiol 50 microg (group B, N=9). Medroxyprogesterone acetate (5 mg/day, 14 days monthly) was given to all patients. Blood samples were obtained before and after 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of treatment. Coagulation tests included Antithrombin III (functional method), prothrombin time, partial activated prothrombin time, thrombin time, factor V, fibrinogen, platelet count and euglobulin lysis time. Friedman analysis of variance and Mann-Whitney test were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Antithrombin III level was reduced (p<0.05) in group A but not in group B, although it remained within normal range. No changes were detected in the other coagulation tests. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that oral conjugated estrogen replacement reduces functional ATIII, whereas transdermal estradiol replacement therapy does not modify it.

Administration, Cutaneous↗

Hormone therapy in women in the menopause transition. Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of effects on body weight, blood pressure, lipoprotein levels, antithrombin III activity, and the endometrium.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether hormone treatment of women during the menopause transition induces changes in body weight, blood pressure, lipoprotein levels, antithrombin III activity, and the endometrium. DESIGN: Prospective, randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind, 12-month study, with crossover at 6 months. SETTING: Outpatient clinic of a city hospital. PARTICIPANTS: 105 apparently healthy women in the menopause transition (40-52 years), with menstrual function, who were experiencing minor menopausal symptoms, were selected from the general population by advertising. INTERVENTIONS: Active arm--oral conjugated oestrogens (0.625 mg daily) and cyclic medroxyprogesterone acetate (10 mg daily) on Day 14-27 of each menstrual cycle; placebo arm--placebos of both medications. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Excess change from baseline associated with active compared with placebo treatment for all variables; effect of order of treatment. RESULTS: Baseline biochemical values were similar for both treatment-order groups, but baseline blood pressures and body weights were higher in the group receiving placebo first. With treatment, there were no differences in overall values for body weight and blood pressure (P > 0.4), and order of treatment had no significant influence (P > 0.3). There were no differences in total and low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, overall or with order of treatment. Active treatment increased high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels (overall and when placebo was given first; P = 0.001), and triglyceride levels (when active treatment was given first; P = 0.03). There was no overall treatment effect, but a significant order-of-treatment effect, on antithrombin III activity (mean levels were decreased by active treatment to a greater extent when it was given first; P = 0.02). The endometrium showed only physiological changes regardless of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The lack of significant excess change in anthropometry, lipoprotein levels, antithrombin III activity, and endometrial histology in women given hormone treatment compared with placebo is reassuring. The increase in HDL cholesterol level is an extra benefit. Our study provides conclusive evidence that hormone treatment does not produce weight gain in women during the menopause transition.

Adult↗

[Purpura fulminans in the newborn. Report of two cases successfully treated with heparin and antithrombin III].

Purpura fulminans is a rare form of disseminated intravascular coagulation characterized by rapidly progressive purpuric lesions, hypotension and, in some cases, fever. In neonates, purpura fulminans usually develops following deficiency of anticoagulant protein C or S, although acquired forms have been described. The management of disseminated intravascular coagulation is still controversial, with some studies finding a positive effect of anticoagulants and others showing no effect or even a detrimental one. Therefore, at present, management is limited to the treatment of underlying disease and replacement of clotting factors. Personal experience is reported on the efficacy of heparin in combination with antithrombin III in the treatment of purpura fulminans in two preterm neonates who did not have inherited deficiency of protein C or S and developed the disease possibly following prolonged labor (36 hours) in the first case, and maternal neoplasia, in the second. Both neonates presented with widespread cyanotic areas rapidly evolving in purpuric lesions and hemorrhagic bullae. Laboratory tests (prolonged prothrombin and partial thromboplastin time, fibrinogen and antithrombin III concentrations below normal ranges, d-dimer highly positive) were consistent with disseminated intravascular coagulation. In both cases anticoagulant treatment with heparin (50 UI/kg in bolus followed by 15 UI/kg/h) and antithrombin III was associated with resolution of disseminated intravascular coagulation and prompt amelioration of the purpuric lesions, without apparent side effects.

Anticoagulants↗

Alteration of plasma antithrombin III levels in ischemic heart disease.

The amount of antithrombin III in plasma was determined quantitatively in 218 males between 45-60 years of age. The mean antithrombin III value was found to be low in the group with low risk for ischemic heart disease, intermediate in the group with high risk for ischemic heart disease and highest in the group with acute myocardial infarction. Concomitant study of kaolin-activated partial thromboplastin time revealed a sharp decrease in its mean value in the group with acute myocardial infarction. The high correlation between antithrombin III and kaolin-activated partial thromboplastin time for the entire population suggests that the development of ischemic heart disease is a gradual process and that failure of the damping mechanism results as an acute event. These findings may be useful in the determination of the coagulation state of these patients.

Acute Disease↗

[Direct and indirect antithrombins in acute coronary syndromes].

Unfractionated heparin (UFH) as well as low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWH), especially enoxaparin, are recommended by the current international guidelines for routine used in the conservative treatment of patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). UFH is still the recommended antithrombin as soon as percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) are performed, although the results of different trials clearly have demonstrated the benefit of enoxaparin also in interventional cardiology. Bleeding complications along PCI procedures can be minimized by avoiding crossover from enoxaparin to UFH or vice versa and by reducing the dosage of indirect antithrombins, particularly of enoxaparin, in patients with chronic renal dysfunction and/or the elderly. Especially for those patient groups, bivalirudin offers already today an effective alternative. There is increasing expectation concerning the use of bivalirudin in patients undergoing PCI procedures but firm data exist at present only for low- and medium-risk patients with non ST-elevation ACS. Results of still ongoing trials (ACUITY, HORIZONS) will help to further confirm the role of bivalirudin in patients with high-risk acute coronary syndromes. For other direct antithrombins, e.g., fondaparinux (a pentasaccharide) or melagatran, comparably few data are available at present. Whether these agents will make their way into clinical use, future will tell.

Acute Disease↗

The C-terminal binding domain of hirullin P18. Antithrombin activity and comparison to hirudin peptides.

Hirullin P18 is a 61-amino acid hirudin-related protein having potent antithrombin activity. Similar to hirudin, it contains a highly acidic C-terminus, but has a significantly different sequence from any other known hirudin variant. The present study demonstrates that the C-terminal fragment acetyl-hirullin P18(41-62) [corrected] possesses an antithrombin potency similar to that of acetyl-desulfatohirudin(45-65). Additionally, like the hirudin fragment analog, it inhibits fibrin-clot formation by binding to a non-catalytic site on thrombin. Sequential shortening of the hirullin P18 C-terminal fragment demonstrates the critical nature of Phe51, which corresponds to the important Phe56 residue of hirudin. Although the sequences of hirullin P18(54-61) and hirudin(59-65) have substantial differences, the C-terminal functional domain represented by hirullin P18(50-61) appears to be comparable to hirudin(55-65) in terms of its functional role in antithrombin activity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Elective percutaneous coronary intervention using broad-spectrum antiplatelet therapy (eptifibatide, clopidogrel, and aspirin) alone, without scheduled unfractionated heparin or other antithrombin therapy.

BACKGROUND: Adjunctive pharmacotherapy during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has historically consisted of a regimen of antiplatelet agents accompanied by an antithrombin agent, typically unfractionated heparin. Paradoxically, unfractionated heparin may activate platelets, induce other pro-thrombotic activities, increase bleeding complications, and cause thrombocytopenia. To optimize patient care and avoid the potential risks of unfractionated heparin in patients undergoing elective PCI, one of the authors began to use adjunctive pharmacotherapy consisting of broad-spectrum antiplatelet therapy alone, without scheduled unfractionated heparin or other antithrombin therapy. METHODS: Five hundred consecutive patients undergoing scheduled, elective PCI (stent deployment, cutting balloon atherotomy, conventional balloon angioplasty, or high-speed rotational atherectomy) received adjunctive pharmacotherapy consisting of eptifibatide, clopidogrel, and aspirin. RESULTS: The technical success rate was 100%. During the first 24 hours, there were no major adverse clinical events. Non-Q-wave myocardial infarction occurred in 1.6% of patients, major and minor bleeding complications in 0.2% and 0.6%, respectively, and thrombocytopenia in 0.6%. During the first 30 days, there was 1 (0.2%) major adverse clinical event. CONCLUSIONS: For elective PCI, adjunctive pharmacotherapy consisting of broad-spectrum antiplatelet therapy alone, without scheduled unfractionated heparin or other antithrombin therapy, appears to be safe and may prove to be efficacious.

Aged↗

A subgroup analysis of the impact of prerandomization antithrombin therapy on outcomes in the SYNERGY trial: enoxaparin versus unfractionated heparin in non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of receiving pretreatment with antithrombin before randomization as well as overall efficacy and safety of enoxaparin versus unfractionated heparin (UFH) in the SYNERGY (Superior Yield of the New Strategy of Enoxaparin, Revascularization, and Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa Inhibitors) trial. BACKGROUND: The SYNERGY trial results demonstrated noninferiority in outcomes with enoxaparin compared with UFH. Randomized treatment was independent of prerandomization treatment. METHODS: Analyses were first performed on the 4 prerandomization subgroups: patients who received no antithrombin therapy and those who were treated with enoxaparin or UFH or both. Then, we focused on the subgroup of patients who received no pretreatment or were pretreated with and randomized to the same drug. Of the 9,978 patients, 2,440 did not receive prerandomization therapy and 6,138 received consistent therapy through randomization. The primary end point was the composite of death and nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI) at 30 days. RESULTS: After adjustment for differences among the subgroups, no significant difference in the association between the 4 pretreatment groups and death or MI remained (p = 0.171). The randomized treatment effect on 30-day death or MI tended to vary with pretreatment (p = 0.055 for interaction test after adjustment). Patients who received consistent therapy with enoxaparin had significantly less death or MI than patients randomized to UFH (adjusted p = 0.041) with a trend toward increased bleeding. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with antithrombin therapy before randomization had potential impact on comparison of study drug effects. After adjustment for differences in baseline characteristics between subgroups, consistent therapy with enoxaparin might be superior to UFH in reducing death or nonfatal MI, with a modest excess in bleeding.

Aged↗

Comparison of antithrombin activity of the polysulphate chitosan derivatives in in vivo and in vitro system.

In order to choose the proper method for evaluating the antithrombin activity in samples of chitosan polysulphate (CP) with different polymerization degrees and sulphation degrees, we estimated the ability of direct anticoagulants to depress the coagulability of recalcified sheep blood using the third international heparin standard (A1 - in vitro system) and determined such activity on pharmacodynamic curve (A2 - in vivo system). The curve admits the kinetics of CP elimination to be nonlinear in case of intravenous injection to rabbits, as it is observed in heparin: Ct = C(o)exp(-K(e)lt), where Ct is the CP concentration at the time moment t; C(o) is the CP concentration at the injection moment; Kel is the elimination constant. Besides, it is assumed that there is a linear approximation of the anticoagulant effect on the dose, which finally makes it possible to calculate the specific activity A2: T = KTCt+T(in), where T is the time of clot formation at different time intervals after CP injection; T(in) is the time of clot formation prior to CP injection. T value was assessed in two tests: blood coagulation time (BCT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT). No correlation was observed between A1 and A2. At the same time, the values of Kel and the period of semi-elimination, with the use of the biospecific cetylpyridinium chloride electrophores for the quantitative determination of CP in rabbit's blood taken at different time intervals after injection, showed a close correlation (r = .94, P < .05) between the same parameters, obtained with the help of the rectilinear pharmacodynamic plot in BCT test. Thus, experimentally, it was proven that the assumption of the CP nonlinear elimination and the CP effect-dose dependence was true, which is necessary for A2 calculation. Relatively low molecular weights (MW 61-82 kDa, polymerization degree 188-252 ) and high sulphation patterns (sulphur amounts 15.6-16.9%, sulphation degree 1.58-1.86) were slowly cleared and there was more antithrombin activity (30-52 IU/mg). We recommend the use of in vivo system for evaluating the antithrombin activity of the CP derivatives.

Animals↗

Antithrombin concentrate with plasma exchange in purpura fulminans.

OBJECTIVE: To report successful treatment of three patients admitted with purpura fulminans. DESIGN: Three cases with purpura fulminans: clinical presentation, laboratory findings, treatment, and outcome. SETTING: A seven-bed medical and general surgical Intensive therapy unit in a district general hospital. PATIENTS: Three young patients with clinical and laboratory findings of severe meningococcal sepsis and purpura. INTERVENTIONS: Early replacement therapy with antithrombin concentrate after a single initial plasma exchange, together with conventional antibiotic and supportive treatment. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: All three cases had abnormal coagulation profile consistent with disseminated intravascular coagulation, adult respiratory distress syndrome, impaired renal function, and severe hemodynamic instability requiring inotropic support. Plasma antithrombin levels were measured in all cases. All patients survived and made a good recovery. CONCLUSIONS: We consider that correction of antithrombin to supranormal levels may have a beneficial effect on survival and outcome in purpura fulminans despite sustained low levels of protein C.

Journal Article↗