Diagnosis and Treatment of Antithrombin Deficiency

Diagnostic Approach

• Patients with thrombosis at unusual sites, such as the portal vein or cerebral veins, should be considered for antithrombin deficiency testing, as this condition is associated with an increased risk of thrombosis at these sites 1, 2

Treatment Approach

• For patients with antithrombin deficiency and acute thrombosis, initiate therapeutic anticoagulation with non-heparin anticoagulants if heparin resistance is suspected, as recommended by the American College of Chest Physicians 3
• In patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and antithrombin deficiency, curative doses of danaparoid are more effective than prophylactic doses, according to the American Society of Hematology 4