Antithrombin III versus prothrombin in liver cirrhosis.

In patients with liver cirrhosis, a close relationship was observed between the respective levels of antithrombin III and prothrombin, both below 50% in 20 our 27 patients. The absence of any thrombotic complication, despite low plasma antithrombin III, suggests that the preserved balance between the inhibitor and the zymogens of the inhibited enzymes could have a protective effect against thrombotic tendency.