Severe Depression of Antithrombin III Associated with Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation in Women with Fatty Liver of Pregnancy

  1. HOWARD A. LIEBMAN, M.D.;
  2. WILLIAM G. MCGEHEE, M.D.;
  3. MARY JANE PATCH, B.A.; and
  4. DONALD I. FEINSTEIN, M.D.
  1. Los Angeles, California

    Abstract

    Serial coagulation studies were done in four women with acute fatty liver of pregnancy. All had coagulopathy, laboratory evidence of diffuse intravascular coagulation, and marked depletion of plasma antithrombin III. Two of these women had persistent intravascular coagulation for 4 days after delivery. The others had prompt control of intravascular coagulation coincident with elevation of the antithrombin III concentration by plasma transfusion. Severe antithrombin III depression may be a major cause of the persistent intravascular clotting and can be corrected by plasma transfusion.

    Article and Author Information

    • ▸From the Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, University of Southern California School of Medicine and the Los Angeles County-University of Southern California Medical Center; Los Angeles, California.

    • Grant support: in part by grant 5R CA 24426-01, National Cancer Institute.

    • ▸Requests for reprints should be addressed to William G. McGehee, M.D.; Hematology Division, USC School of Medicine, 2025 Zonal Avenue; Los Angeles, CA 90033.

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    1. Ann Intern Med March 1, 1983 vol. 98 no. 3 330-333
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