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Published on: September 9, 2012
Antithrombin activities in childhood malnutrition
Journal of Clinical Pathology
|October 1, 1979
Summary
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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