Diagnostic and prognostic significance of antithrombin III, plasminogen and alpha-2-artiphasmin in jaundiced patients

ABSTRACT

This study was designed to find out the diagnostic and prognostic usefulness of Antithrombin-III, [AI-III] Plasminogen and Alpha-2 antiplasmin in different types of jaundice. AT-Ill, plasminogen and alpha-2 antiplasmin were studied in 43 jaundiced patients [Hepatic metastasis n = 9 and Hepatocel lular, n = 17, and obstructive, n = 17] and compared to 10 healthy controls. The mean serum levels of alpha-2 antiplasmin, AT-III and plasminogen were significantly decreased in hepatic metastasis and hepatocellular subgroups compared to control and cholestatic subjects. No significant differences were noticed between control subjects and cholestatic patients except for significant elevation in serum level of alpha-2 antiplasmin in the latter. In hepatocelluar jaundiced patients, these parameters were markedly decreased in fulminant hepatitis patients compared to cirrhotics and patients with acute viral hepatitis. Also in Hepatocellular group, a significant negative correlations could be elicited between bilirubin [Total and direct and SGOT on one side and AT-Ill and plasminogen on the other side. Also significant negative correlations were noticed between alpha-2 antiplasmin and each of total bilirubin and SGOT. It can be concluded that alpha-2 antiplasmin, AT-Ill and plasminogen may play a role in etiological diagnosis as well as prognostic follow up of jaundiced patients