Pre- and postoperative levels of antithrombin III with special reference to thromboembolism after total hip replacement.

A prospective study of antithrombin III, determined by electroimmunochemical assay or an amidolytical method, was carried out with special reference to thromboembolism after total hip replacement. Two hundred and seven patients were randomly allocated to thromboembolic prophylaxis with dextran 70 or low dose heparin combined with dihydroergotamine. Deep vein thrombosis determined by phlebography of the operated leg or pulmonary embolism diagnosed with perfusion/ventilation scintigraphy developed in 51% of the total material and did not differ significantly between the two groups of prophylaxis or between patients with a preoperative At III below normal and those with a normal value. The correlation between the two assay methods for At III was 0.61. An initial, postoperative decrease in At III was noted with a parallel fall in hematocrit and fibrinogen, later followed by an increase of the plasma proteins. It is concluded that the immediate postoperative decrease of At III is mostly due to hemodilution.