Preservation of antithrombin 111 activity in stored whole blood

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Abstract
Antithrombin III (AT‐III) is the major inhibitor of thrombin, Factor Xa, and other coagulation enzymes. Congenital and acquired deficiencies of AT‐III are thought to contribute to thrombosis and disseminated intravascular coagulation. Because a recent report suggested reduced AT III in stored blood, we evaluated blood bank storage effects. Serial samples were taken from 6 units of whole blood drawn into citrate‐ phosphate‐dextrose‐adenine over 42 days, and assays for AT‐III functional activity were performed on the same day. The values (mean +/− SD) were as follows: day 0,91.8 +/− 10.7 percent; day 2, 101.9 +/− 10.7 percent; day 8, 107.3 +/− 7.4 percent; day 15, 118.9 +/− 11.1 percent; day 22, 105.4 +/− 9.8 percent; day 35, 93.4 +/− 8.8 percent; and day 42, 97.4 +/− 7.5 percent. The rise from day 0 to day 15 was significant but presumably secondary to interassay variation because analysis of frozen aliquots showed no significant change when all samples from each unit were assayed in one batch. Immunoassay of AT‐III also showed no change with storage. The results indicate AT‐III retains functional activity in whole blood stored at 2 to 6 degrees C for 42 days, and AT‐ III replacement does not require fresh blood or fresh‐frozen plasma. Low values may reflect individual donor differences or dilution of plasma by anticoagulant.
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