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Antithrombin activities in childhood malnutrition

R A Jiménez, E Jiménez, G I Ingram

    Journal of Clinical Pathology
    |October 1, 1979
    PubMed

    Insights

    Severely malnourished children show depressed antithrombin activity, primarily due to low alpha 2-globulin. This may explain the increased risk of thrombosis in childhood malnutrition.

    Area of Science:

    • Biochemistry
    • Pediatrics
    • Hematology

    Background:

    • Childhood malnutrition is associated with a high incidence of thrombosis.
    • Antithrombin activity is crucial for regulating blood coagulation.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate antithrombin activities in severely malnourished children compared to normal children.
    • To explore the relationship between specific antithrombin components and thrombotic risk.

    Main Methods:

    • Antithrombin activity was measured using clotting tests (thrombin neutralization, anti-Xa, heparin antithrombin assay).
    • Protein levels were assessed by immunodiffusion for alpha 2-globulin and alpha 1-antitrypsin.

    Main Results:

    • Severely malnourished children exhibited significantly depressed mean alpha 2-globulin levels.
    • Reduced mean values were observed for thrombin neutralization, anti-Xa, and heparin antithrombin assay in malnourished children.
    • Alpha 1-antitrypsin levels remained normal in the malnourished group.

    Conclusions:

    • Findings support antithrombin as a composite of alpha 2-globulin and alpha 1-antitrypsin.
    • Depressed antithrombin levels in malnutrition may contribute to thrombotic tendencies.
    • Further research is needed to confirm the link between malnutrition-associated antithrombin deficiency and thrombosis.

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