ANTITHROMBIN LEVELS IN ADULT STROKE PATIENTS ATTENDING THE UNIVERSITY OF BENIN TEACHING HOSPITAL, EDO STATE

Abstract

Background: Antithrombin is a natural anticoagulant which serves to regulate coagulation
by inhibiting thrombin and other activated coagulation factors thereby preventing excessive
or inappropriate clotting. Hypercoagulable states due to deficiency of the natural
anticoagulants (antithrombin, protein C and S) predispose to venous and arterial thrombosis.
Objective: To determine the role of antithrombin deficiency in development of ischaemic
stroke in order to ascertain its relevance in stroke management.
Methods: Adult ischaemic stroke patients and controls matched for age and sex were
recruited in the study. Blood samples were taken for haematological indices,
prothrombin(PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), and antithrombin. Functional
and quantitative assessment of antithrombin by chromogenic assay and ELISA were carried
out using Technochrom AT111 kit LOT: 0531B00.02. REF: 5340225 and Assaypro ELISA
kit LOT: 021371433. Catalog: EA3303-1 respectively. Prothrombin (PT), activated partial
thromboplastin time (aPTT), haemoglobin, total white cell count and platelet count were
assessed using standard protocol.
Results: A total of 130 subjects were studied comprising 65 stroke subjects and 65 controls.
Mean age of the study group is 60.4 ± 12.3years whilst that of the control is 59.0 ± 14.1. The
mean functional ATIII levels, ATIII Ag levels and ATIII Ag(%) of the study and control groups were 93.36  21.38, 282.97  47.52 and 101.29  2.36 respectively while those

of the controls were 93.36  19.88, 278.28  49.59 and 99.19  27.73 respectively.
There was no statistically significant difference between the case and control groups.

Total WBC count in the stroke subjects was 7.23 ± 3.01 while those of the controls was 5.27
± 1.55. This is statistically significant(p= 0.001). The platelet count was also higher and
haemoglobin concentrations lower in stroke patients though not statistically significant. PT
and aPTT values were similar in both study groups,
Conclusion:This study showed that antithrombin functional and antigen levels were not
significantly different between ischaemic stroke subjects and controls. Antithrombin may not
play a significant role in development of ischaemic stroke.