Antithrombin III in patients with acute deep vein thrombosis during heparin treatment (subcutaneous and intravenous) and during and after treatment with oral coumarins.

The antithrombin III (AT-III) concentration was studied in 98 patients with symptomatic acute deep-vein thrombosis. All patients were initially treated with heparin randomly by subcutaneous injections or by continuous infusions. Then the patients were treated with coumarins during one or six months. The AT-III concentration was estimated daily during heparin treatment and repeatedly during the first year. The mean AT-III concentration decreased progressively 25% during 5 days of heparin treatment regardless of whether heparin was given intravenously or subcutaneously. The mean AT-III concentration during coumarin treatment was higher than after coumarin treatment. Eleven patients developed recurrent thromboembolic episodes during the follow-up period. The mean AT-III concentration in these patients was not lower than in the patients without recurrences.