Urinary excretion and deficiency of prothrombin in nephrotic syndrome

Plasma and urinary prothrombin concentration and plasma prothrombin activity were measured in a group of 17 patients with the nephrotic syndrome. An immunologic assay using a monospecific antibody against human prothrombin was employed in the measurement of prothrombin concentration in the plasma and urine. Prothrombin-deficient plasma was used as the substrate in the measurement of plasma prothrombin activity. A control group consisting of five normal volunteers was included for comparison. Both the activity and concentration of prothrombin were significantly lower in the nephrotic group as compared with the control group. Significant quantities of immunoreactive prothrombin were detected in the urine of the majority of nephrotic patients. This study has provided unequivocal evidence of urinary excretion and acquired deficiency of prothrombin in the nephrotic syndrome.