Antithrombin substitution therapy.

Antithrombin (AT) is the most important inhibitor of the coagulation system. Due to the high cost of AT treatment, there must be rational arguments to justify its use. Established indications for AT substitution include hereditary homozygous AT deficiency in newborn babies and hereditary AT deficiency before or during certain situations, for example, surgery and pregnancy. AT substitution therapy can also be justified in the treatment of complex coagulation disorders, sepsis with disseminated intravascular coagulation and acute thromboembolic events with reduced AT activity. Administration of AT concentrates to patients with nephrotic syndrome or stable hepatopathy is not justified. To achieve an anti-inflammatory effect in patients with sepsis, it is thought that above-normal levels of AT activity (> 140% of the normal level) are probably needed. Although currently available data on the effect of AT in the treatment of sepsis are insufficient, results from controlled studies will soon become available and will show whether sepsis is an indication for AT substitution.