What does a low antithrombin test mean?
Lower-than-normal AT III may mean you have an increased risk for blood clotting. This can occur when there is not enough AT III in your blood, or when there is enough AT III in your blood, but the AT III does not function properly and is less active. Abnormal results may not appear until you are an adult.
How do you treat low antithrombin levels?
For people with very low antithrombin levels, heparin may not work well if administered alone. This is called heparin resistance. In order for heparin to work properly an adequate amount of antithrombin must be present in the blood. If heparin treatment is ineffective, then antithrombin concentrate may be prescribed.
What is antithrombin III activity blood test?
Antithrombin acts as a natural blood thinner. If your blood clots when it isn’t supposed to, your doctor may order an antithrombin III blood test. This measures the amount of antithrombin protein in your body to learn if you have an antithrombin deficiency that’s causing your blood to clot more easily than normal.
What are the symptoms of a blood clotting disorder?
Symptoms can include: Swollen and tender legs that are painful to the touch, if you have blood clots that block blood flow to your leg veins (called deep vein thrombosis or DVT) Shortness of breath and chest pain, if you have a blood clot that travels to the lungs (called a pulmonary embolism)
What is antithrombin level in blood test?
How common is protein S deficiency?
Frequency. Mild protein S deficiency is estimated to occur in approximately 1 in 500 individuals. Severe protein S deficiency is rare; however, its exact prevalence is unknown.
What is a normal antithrombin level?
But in general, 80% to 120% is considered normal for adults. The normal range for newborns is usually about 44% to 76%. Thrombin levels in infants rise to adult levels by about 6 months of age. People with genetically inherited antithrombin deficiency typically have test results between 40% and 60%.
What is the prevalence of antithrombin III deficiency?
Antithrombin III deficiency cannot be diagnosed while the patient is receiving heparin or is in the immediate postoperative setting. Inherited AT deficiency is an autosomal dominant disorder with AT levels of 40–50% and a prevalence of 1 in 2000 adults. Approximately 50% of individuals with AT deficiency will have a thrombotic event.
What happens when antithrombin levels are high or low?
If antithrombin levels are low, a person will have a tendency to clot more easily. If antithrombin levels are too high, a person could, theoretically, have a bleeding tendency. However, elevated levels of antithrombin do not appear to cause bleeding or have any clinical significance. How are Antithrombin Levels Measured?
What are the risks of the antithrombin III test?
Like all blood tests, the antithrombin III test involves some risks. These risks are common to all routine blood tests. They include: difficulty obtaining a blood sample, resulting in multiple needle sticks an accumulation of blood under your skin at the puncture site, which is known as a hematoma This test is safe. The risks are minimal.
What is the antithrombin III activity and antigen level reference range?
The antithrombin III activity and antigen level reference range is about 80% to 130%, 256 although each laboratory should determine its own laboratory‐specific reference range according to the methods and equipment used in the laboratory. The typical interassay coefficient of variation (CV) ranges from 3% to 5%, and possibly up to 10%.