ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Acquired antithrombin III (AT) deficiency may render heparin less effective during cardiac surgery and cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). The authors examined the pharmacodynamics and optimal dose of recombinant human AT (rh-AT) needed to maintain normal AT activity during CPB, optimize the anticoagulant response to heparin, and attenuate excessive activation of the hemostatic system in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. METHODS: Thirty-six patients scheduled to undergo elective primary coronary artery bypass grafting and who had received heparin for 12 h or more before surgery were enrolled in the study. Ten cohorts of three patients each received rh-AT in doses of 10, 25, 50, 75, 100, 125, 175, or 200 U/kg, a cohort of six patients received 150 U/kg of rh-AT, and a control group of six patients received placebo. RESULTS: Antithrombin III activity exceeded 600 U/dl before CPB at the highest dose (200 U/kg). Doses of 75 U/kg rh-AT normalized AT activity to 100 U/dl during CPB. Activated clotting times during CPB were significantly (P < 0.0001) greater in patients who received rh-AT (844 +/- 191 s) compared with placebo patients (531 +/- 180 s). Significant (P = 0.001) inverse relations were observed between rh-AT dose and both fibrin monomer (r = -0.51) and D-dimer (r = -0.51) concentrations. No appreciable adverse events were observed with any rh-AT doses used in the study. CONCLUSIONS: Supplementation of native AT with transgenically produced protein (rh-AT) in cardiac surgical patients was well tolerated and resulted in higher activated clotting times during CPB and decreased levels of fibrin monomer and D-dimer.
