This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Antithrombin / heparin system

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Antithrombin is a serine protease inhibitor which inhibits the following coagulation factors:

  • thrombin
  • factor Xa
  • factors XIIa, XIIIa and IXa

Binding of heparin to antithrombin improves the speed with which antithrombin can neutralise these prothrombotic factors. In vivo, glycosaminoglycans on the endothelial cells serve as the endogenous catalysts for antithrombin activation.

Antithrombin deficiency is a cause of thrombophilia.

Heparin cofactor II is a distinct serine protease inhibitor which inhibits thrombin in the presence of heparin. Deficiency of heparin cofactor II may cause thrombophilia.


Create an account to add page annotations

Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.