title: Anti-thrombin III deficiency in Nigerian children with sickle cell disease. Possible role in the cerebral syndrome.
abstract: A prospective study of Nigerian children with sickle cell disease was undertaken to determine serum levels of antithrombin III (AT-III) and compare these with normal controls. Mean serum AT-III was significantly lower in patients than in controls (14.51 +/- 4.84 mg/dl and 17.75 +/- 5.92 mg/dl) respectively. Seven of the 49 sickle cell patients had AT-III levels below 50% of normal values. Mean platelet counts were significantly higher in sicklers than in normal controls. AT-III deficiency may predispose to thrombotic complications in children with sickle cell disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria.
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Onyemelukwe
authors.forename: H B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Jibril
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D000990:Antithrombin III / Q000032:analysis; D020152:Antithrombin III Deficiency; D001778:Blood Coagulation Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D002542:Intracranial Embolism and Thrombosis / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D010976:Platelet Count; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence
chemical_list: D000990:Antithrombin III