Adverse effect of heparin in thrombin-antithrombin III interaction

Thrombin, while reacting in the presence of hepatin, impairs the inhibitory capacity of antithrombin III so that subsequent inhibition of thrombin or factor Xa is decreased or abolished. This adverse effect of hepatin has been observed directly with at least 1.5 Iowa units of thrombin per each unit of purified human antithrombin III participating in the reaction. The inhibitory capacity was then totally destroyed and some residual thrombin remained in the active form. With a lower enzyme/inhibitor ratio inactivation of thrombin in the presence of hepatin was fast and complete, however, a significant decrease of inhibitory capacity below that found in reaction without heparin, has been established by measuring the residual antithrombin III activity. In defibrinated human plasma at least 2 units of thrombin per each antithrombin III unit were required to demonstrate directly the adverse effect of heparin but a fast depletion of inhibitory capacity has been also observed after repeated additions of small thrombin portions into plasma heparinized in vitro or in vivo. Portions of enzyme initially added disappeared with great velocity; subsequent portions, however, accumulated building up a high thrombin level not seen in the absence of heparin. The accumulation of residual enzyme was more extensive in plasma containing about 1 heparin unit per ml than anticoagulant at lower concentrations and was particularly noticeable in antithrombin III deficient plasma. These results may have some bearings on the approach to heparin therapy in the event when thrombin continuously generates or when a marked deficiency of antithrombin III exists.