[Clinical importance of the determination of antithrombin III by the use of a chromogenic substrate, in cases of disseminated intravascular coagulation and of acute hepatic insufficiency].

Antithrombin III (AT III) an alpha 2 globulin produced by liver, is the most important plasmatic inhibitor of activated coagulation factors, that bind irreversibly to it with formation of inactive complexes. Therefore, when coagulation processes are activated in vivo, a decrease of AT III is presumably likely to occur. In the present research, AT III has been determined both as substance concentration, by radial immunodiffusion, and on the base of its activity on a chromogenic substrate (Chromozym) in patients with DIC before and after heparin therapy. Some patients with acute liver insufficiency have been similarly studied, because they not only have a deficient protein synthesis but also show phenomena of anticoagulative factors consumption. In all the patients, the AT III levels appeared decreased by both methods; the decrease of activity was comparatively much more intense and in a case no activity was even detectable.