Antithrombin

Antithrombin testing measures the function and quantity of antithrombin.  Antithrombin is a protein produced by the liver to help control blood clotting. Normally, when a blood vessel is injured, the body activates a series of coagulation factors, in a process called the coagulation cascade, to form a blood clot and prevent further blood loss. Antithrombin helps to regulate this process by inhibiting the action of several activated coagulation factors, including thrombin and factors Xa, IXa, and XIa, to slow down the process and prevent excessive or inappropriate clotting.

Patients with inherited or acquired antithrombin deficiency are at increased risk of venous thrombosis.  Inherited deficiencies are rare (about 1 in 5000 patients).  If a person has one defective gene and one normal gene (heterozygous), then inappropriate clotting episodes typically start at about 20 to 30 years of age.  Very rarely, an individual has two defective antithrombin genes, resulting in severe thrombotic problems soon after birth.  Acquired antithrombin deficiencies may occur at any age.  They are associated with a variety of conditions, including liver disease, extensive thrombosis, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), blood loss, cancer, and nephrotic syndrome – a form of kidney disease.

There are two types of antithrombin deficiency. With type 1, normal antithrombin is produced, but the quantity made is insufficient. With type 2, there is a sufficient quantity of antithrombin produced, but it is dysfunctional. These types can be detected, differentiated, and assessed using two antithrombin tests. They are:

• Antithrombin activity, which evaluates the function of a patient’s antithrombin
• Antithrombin antigen, which measures the quantity of antithrombin present

A blood sample is obtained by inserting a needle into a vein in the arm.

No test preparation is needed.