Antithrombin III deficiency: decreased synthesis of a biochemically normal molecule

Blood. 1982 Jul;60(1):78-83.

Abstract

A 29-yr-old white female has suffered from recurrent venous thromboses over the last 12 yr. Plasma antithrombin III (AT-III) levels were 48% of normal by immunoelectrophoresis and 56% by chromogenic assay. Three of four siblings and the father had similar AT-III levels without associated venous thromboses. Heparin-Sepharose chromatography demonstrated normal behavior of the patient's AT-III. Her purified AT-III could not be distinguished from AT-III purified from a normal control either by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis or by crossed immunoelectrophoresis, and the heparin cofactor activity and the progressive antithrombin activity of both AT-III samples were identical. Turnover studies were made in the patient using her own purified AT-III labeled with 131I, (*I). The results did not differ significantly from studies made with autologous *I-AT-III in two normal control women. Her fractional breakdown rate of 0.54 total plasma AT-III per day compared with 0.45 and 0.52 in the controls. These studies indicate that the patient synthesizes a normal AT-III molecule at half normal rates.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antigens / analysis
  • Antithrombin III / biosynthesis*
  • Antithrombin III / immunology
  • Antithrombin III / physiology
  • Chromogenic Compounds / pharmacology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunoelectrophoresis, Two-Dimensional
  • Middle Aged
  • Thrombin Time
  • Thrombophlebitis / blood*
  • Thrombophlebitis / diagnosis
  • Thrombophlebitis / genetics

Substances

  • Antigens
  • Chromogenic Compounds
  • Antithrombin III