title: Plasma von Willebrand factor and antithrombin III in patients submitted to open heart surgery.
abstract: Cardiovascular surgery for valve replacement led to a significant (p < 0.001) increase of plasma von Willebrand factor antigen level from 227% +/- 30.9 (x +/- SEM) recorded before surgery, to 397% +/- 40.7 at the end of the surgical procedure and the levels of this endothelia-derived glycoprotein remained high (427% +/- 38.9) 48 hours later. On the other hand plasma antithrombin III activity decreased from 85.4% +/- 8 before surgery, to 67.0% +/- 6 at the end of the surgical intervention and rose to 81.3% +/- 7, two days later. Lethal outcome occurred in a patient with initial low antithrombin III level (62%). These observations stress the importance of a thorough investigation of hemostatic variables in patients submitted to cardiovascular surgery.
authors.affiliation: Central Laboratory, UMF Cluj First Medical Clinic, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bódizs
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Brudaşca
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aldica
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cucuianu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000990:Antithrombin III / Q000032:analysis*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative; D013997:Time Factors; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D014841:von Willebrand Factor; D000990:Antithrombin III