The significance of low antithrombin III levels in cirrhosis.

Antithrombin III is an anticoagulant synthesized in the liver cells. The aim of this study was to estimate the serum level of antithrombin III in cirrhotics. Investigations were carried out in 32 patients with cirrhosis and in 20 healthy controls. Antithrombin III measured by radial immunodiffusion was found significantly lower (19.2 +/- 6.8 mg%) than in controls (28.0 +/- +/- 5.2 mg%) (p less than 0.01). The level of antithrombin III is positively correlated with pseudo-cholinesterase and, less significantly with blood albumin. Therefore decreased antithrombin III reflects liver cell disfunction in cirrhosis and its decrease may predispose to thrombotic events which occur sporadically in cirrhosis.