Levels of antithrombin III and D-dimers as predictors of pulmonary artery thromboembolism in patients with deep vein thrombosis

Abstract

Aim. Search for predictors of pulmonary artery thromboembolism in patients with deep vein thrombosis among the indicators of hemostasis system. Methods. Retrospective analysis of indicators of hemostasis system was performed in 23 patients with defined pulmonary artery thromboembolism, 30 patients with deep vein thrombosis and 20 healthy volunteers. Values of platelet aggregation by Born method, concentration of circulating thrombocytic aggregates by Kohanna method, values of thromboelastometry, as well as blood levels of D-dimers and antitrombin III in arterial and venous blood were measured. Results. It was established that in patients from both thrombosis groups, haemostasis system changes are similar in nature: (1) a high value of Wu-Hoak is registered - more than 15 times higher in both arterial and venous blood compared to the control group; (2) platelet aggregation rates demonstrate hyperaggregation with all inductors, both in arterial and venous blood; (3) thromboelastography results are characterized by increased activity of thrombocytic hemostasis, prolonged clotting time, heightened clot strength compared to control in both arterial and venous blood flow. However, the difference was revealed between groups with and without pulmonary thromboembolism in venous blood levels of D-dimers and activity of antithrombin III. A function to predict pulmonary thromboembolism was constructed depending on the level of D-dimers and activity of antithrombin III in patients with deep vein thrombosis. Conclusion. The developed function for prediction of pulmonary artery thromboembolism can objectively assess the likelihood of pulmonary thromboembolism, which in turn allows minimizing risk and timely assessing the effectiveness of taken preventive measures.