title: Effects of Preoperative Glycyrrhizin Infusion for the Prevention of Venous Thrombosis on the Tissue Expression of Antithrombin in a Rat Model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Using a thrombus model prepared by ligation of the inferior vena cava (IVC), the influences of the glycoside, glycyrrhizin, on plasma antithrombin levels and antithrombin mRNA expression levels in the liver and IVC with the inhibition of venous thrombosis were investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  The rat IVC was exposed and ligated for 24 h immediately after the intravenous administration of 300 mg/kg glycyrrhizin. Among antithrombotic drugs, the Xa inhibitor, fondaparinux sodium, was used as a control drug.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean thrombus weight was significantly smaller in the glycyrrhizin-treated group (18.3 mg) than in the saline-treated group (34.3 mg). In contrast, the inhibition of thrombosis was not observed in the fondaparinux-treated group. Antithrombin mRNA expression levels in the liver were significantly higher in the ligated groups than in the baseline control group. The mean plasma antithrombin level was significantly lower in the glycyrrhizin group (96.6%) than in the saline group (114.4%), but was not significantly different from that in the baseline control group (102.4%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The pretreatment with glycyrrhizin inhibited venous thrombosis, and antithrombin mRNA expression levels in the liver and IVC as well as plasma antithrombin levels were significantly lower than those in the saline group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Osaka Medical Prison Hospital, Sakai, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Nobuaki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nakata
authors.affiliation: Department of Central Laboratory, Osaka City University Medical School, Sakai, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Yukimi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kira
keywords: DVT; antithrombin; glycyrrhizin