RESUMO
Biological and immunological antithrombin III was studied in 26 patients of viral hepatitis including 6 with encephalopathy, and in 11 patients with cirrhosis of liver. There was a significant reduction in both biological and immunological activity of antithrombin III in all the groups of liver disorders studied. There was a good correlation between biological and immunological activity of antithrombin III (P less than 0.05). Further, there was a significant inverse correlation between immunological activity of antithrombin III and SGOT/SGPT (P less than 0.01) as well as serum bilirubin (P less than 0.001), signifying the prognostic value of antithrombin III in hepatitis. Biological activity on the other hand did not show any relation with the hepatic enzymes or bilirubin elevation. The antithrombin III levels appeared to decline in direct proportion to the degree of hepatic necrosis, probably due to reduced synthesis.