Early treatment with AT III in acute liver failure

In acute liver failure there is often evidence of consumption coagulopathy in addition to interference with the synthesis of coagulation enzymes. Seven patients in hepatic coma (Grade IV-V) were treated by baboon liver perfusion bypass. Replacement therapy with antithrombin III (AT-III) proved useful in the management of the consumption coagulopathy. In the course of further work antithrombin III replacement therapy was given to 13 patients with acute liver failure at an early stage, before they could lapse into deep coma. Six patients with a Colombi index (the sum of Factors II, V and VII) below 75% - an unfavourable prognostic sign - survived the episode of acute liver failure. Early replacement with antithrombin III can be used to treat the coagulation abnormalities which occur during acute liver failure and should gain time for liver cell regeneration to take place.