title: Markers of coagulation activation for evaluation of the antithrombotic efficacy of heparin: a prospective study in acute deep venous thrombosis.
abstract: The potential value of measurements of prothrombin fragment 1 + 2 (F1 + 2), thrombin-antithrombin complexes (TAT) and D-dimer for the assessment of antithrombotic efficacy of heparin in acute deep venous thrombosis (DVT) was prospectively investigated. These variables were determined at presentation and subsequently once daily during a course of seven days heparin therapy. Heparin doses were adjusted according to the activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT). Compression ultrasonography was performed at presentation and on day 7 to determine the extent of thrombosis according to a predefined score. Out of a total of 50 patients accrued to the study 44 patients had reduced or unchanged extent of thrombosis, whereas in six patients an extension was documented. Although thrombin generation was significantly inhibited after initiation of heparin therapy as reflected by a decrease in F1 + 2 and TAT levels, these markers were not useful for the detection of patients with DVT extension. In contrast, anti-factor-Xa activities but not APTT measurements were significantly lower in the group of patients with propagation of DVT (median: 0.22 U/ml versus 0.38 U/ml, interquartile range: 0.1-0.33 U/ml versus 0.19-0.55 U/ml; P = 0.001). D-dimer decreased within the first days of heparin therapy but failed to indicate DVT progression. These data suggest that plasma anti-factor-Xa activity correlates better with the antithrombotic efficacy of heparin than APTT measurements and markers of coagulation or fibrinolysis activation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Mesters
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mikoteit
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schiller
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Krings
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ostermann
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kienast
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000990:Antithrombin III / Q000032:analysis; D001779:Blood Coagulation Factors / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / Q000032:analysis; D006493:Heparin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010314:Partial Thromboplastin Time; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000032:analysis; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000032:analysis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011516:Prothrombin / Q000032:analysis; D013924:Thrombophlebitis / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D001779:Blood Coagulation Factors; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C046193:antithrombin III-protease complex; C036309:fibrin fragment D; C045879:prothrombin fragment 1.2; D000990:Antithrombin III; D011516:Prothrombin; D006493:Heparin; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases