[Substitution of antithrombin III in shock and consumption coagulopathy]

A considerable diminution of the activity of antithrombin III (AT III) is found in the majority of patients in shock with signs of DIC. This results in further propagation of the mechanism of consumption coagulopathy and in a diminished effect of heparin. AT III was substituted in 16 patients who were admitted in shock. When acute consumption coagulopathy was present a greatly increased rate of inactivation of AT III was found. In spite of this fact, a comparison with a similar group of patients in whom substitution was not undertaken demonstrated a highly significant shortening of the duration of DIC and a clinically impressive, but not statistically significant, diminution of the mortality rate.