Hypercoagulability in acute bleeding peptic ulcer disease assessed by thrombin-antithrombin III concentrations.
OBJECTIVE
To find out whether patients with acute bleeding peptic ulcers have hypercoagulable blood.


METHODS
Prospective open study.


METHODS
District hospital in Sweden.


METHODS
54 consecutive patients with duodenal ulcer (n = 25) and gastric ulcer (n = 29) admitted with haematemesis or melaena, or both.


METHODS
Diagnosis verified on admission by endoscopy, and healing was examined at follow up. Consumption of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and smoking habits, were recorded.


METHODS
Coagulation of the blood monitored by concentrations of plasma thrombin-antithrombin III (TAT) complex in samples obtained on admission for the acute bleeding episode and at follow up 1-2 months later.


RESULTS
The plasma TAT complex concentrations were raised during the acute bleeding episode (p < 0.001) compared with an age matched reference group. The TAT complex concentrations measured at follow up had returned to the reference range in all patients, whether or not their ulcers had healed.


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate that patients with acute haemorrhage from peptic ulcers have hypercoagulable blood during the acute episode.
Henriksson
A E
AE
Department of Surgery, Sundsvall County Hospital, Sweden.
Nilsson
T K
TK
Svensson
J O
JO
D000208:Acute Disease; D000990:Antithrombin III / Q000032:analysis*; D001777:Blood Coagulation; D004381:Duodenal Ulcer / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010438:Peptic Ulcer Hemorrhage / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000032:analysis*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology
C046193:antithrombin III-protease complex; D000990:Antithrombin III; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases