Effect of hemodialysis on protein C and antithrombin III

The effect of hemodialysis on natural coagulation inhibitors including protein C [PC] and antithrombin III [AT III] had been studied. Plasma PC and AT III levels measured in 20 uremic patients on maintenance hemodialysis immediately before and after dialysis treatment. These values were compared with those obtained from 20 matched healthy controls. Functional activities of PC was determined by coagulometric method and functional activities of AT III was determined by amidolytic method. Both the functional activities of PC and AT III in uremic patients were significantly lower than those of controls. No significant change in the level of AT III was observed with dialysis, but a progressive increase of functional activity of PC was documented with hemodialysis. On the luisis of this study, the risk of thrombosis may increase due the decrease in AT III levels. However, this effect may be compensated by the increase in PC activity, possibly due to the removal of an inhibitory substance on PC activity