Monitoring of Heparin Treatment. Comparison between Thrombin Time, Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time, and Plasma Heparin Concentration, and Analysis of the Behavior of Antithrombin III

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Abstract
Three laboratory methods for monitoring heparin treatment have been compared using 63 plasma samples: the thrombin time, the activated partial thromboplastin time, and the measurement of the heparin conconcentration using a chromogenic substrate. A good correlation was found between the methods. However, the intensity of anticoagulation was identical in only 27 of the 63 samples (43%) when the thrombin time and the activated partial thromboplastin time were compared. Fully discordant results were recorded for four samples (6%). The thrombin time was found to be more closely related to the plasma heparin concentration than was the activated partial thromboplastin time. Both antithrombin-HI activity and immunologic levels were lower in the group with strong heparinization. It is suggested that the thrombin time is a good and safe method for monitoring heparin treatment.