Immunoelectrophoretic evidence of a thrombin-induced abnormality in a new variant of hereditary dysfunctional antithrombin III (AT III ‘Vicenza’)

Abstract

An Italian family with thrombosis and hereditary dysfunctional AT III [antithrombin III], i.e., reduced biological activity and normal levels of the immunoreactive protein is presented. The abnormal molecule, called AT III Vicenza, was characterized by 2-dimensional crossed immunoelectrophoresis either in the absence or presence of heparin. In the presence of heparin, a normal pattern was found in plasma, but abnormality was evident in serum. A similar abnormality was found in plasma artificially clotted with thrombin. The role of thrombin in inducing the immunoelectrophoretic abnormality of AT III Vicenza is discussed.