An Investigative Study of Prothrombin Time, Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time and Antithrombin Levels in Patients with Ischaemic Stroke
Oluomachi C Nnachi
*
Department of Haematology, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki.Nigeria.
Innocent P Ezenwenyi
Department of Haematology, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki.Nigeria.
John C Akulue
Department of Haematology, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki.Nigeria.
Oji A Nnachi
Department of Haematology, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki.Nigeria.
Favour E Nwadum
Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences, Uburu, Nigeria.
Tochukwu J Onoh
Department of Haematology, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki.Nigeria.
Ozioma E Ezeokoli
Department of Haematology, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki.Nigeria.
Chima G Ugwu
Department of Haematology, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki.Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: The haemostatic system maintains a balance between prothrombotic and antithrombotic components in the body. The role of this system in ischaemic stroke is not certain.
Objective: Prothrombin time (PT) and Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time(APTT) are widely used screening tests to assess the haemostatic cascade. We sought to evaluate the relevance of these test and antithrombin (AT) levels in patients with ischaemic stroke.
Methods: AT, platelet count, PT and APTT tests were carried out for 65 patients with ischaemic stroke and 65 controls with no history of stroke.
Results: The mean age of stroke subjects was 60.4 ± 12.3yrs. PT and APTT in the test and control groups were similar and Antithrombin levels did not show significant difference. But there was a significant association between functional AT deficiency and diabetes mellitus in the ischaemic stroke group. A significant negative correlation existed between functional AT activity and prothrombin and between AT Ag levels and APTT
Conclusion: There was no difference in the Antithrombin levels, PT and APTT values in patients with ischaemic stroke and those without a history of stroke and carrying out these tests routinely to assess hypercoagulable states in ischaemic stroke patients may not have any diagnostic value in our population.
Keywords: Antithrombin, Activated partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time, Ischaemic stroke