MEASUREMENT OF ANTITHROMBIN-III, ALPHA-2-MACROGLOBULIN AND ALPHA-1-ANTITRYPSIN IN PATIENTS WITH DEEP VENOUS THROMBOSIS AND PULMONARY-EMBOLISM

Antithrombin III (AT III) activity, α2-macroglobulin (α2-M) and α1-antitrypsin (α1-AT) concentration was determined in 101 non-surgical patients including 45 patients with deep venous thrombosis and 15 patients with pulmonary embolism. 9 (20%) patients with deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and 6 patients (40%) with pulmonary embolism had lowered AT III activity during the acute episode. In the group of patients with pulmonary embolism, mean AT III activity was lowered compared to control patients (86% and 97% respectively), although the difference was not significant. Some months after the thromboembolic event 7 patients with lowered AT III activity were investigated again. All had normal AT III activity by then, suggesting that decreased AT III activity in patients with thromboembolic disease is a temporary phenomenon. α2-M and α1-AT were significantly decreased in control patients compared to normal persons. In patients with thromboembolic disease no further lowering was seen. Both inhibitors may contribute to the hypercoagulable state, which is often seen in severely ill patients. © 1979.