BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuCongenital antithrombin III deficiencyDeficiency - antithrombin III - congenital; Antithrombin III deficiency - congenitalCongenital antithrombin III (three) deficiency is a genetic disorder that causes the blood to clot more than normal.GeneticGenetics is the study of heredity, the process of a parent passing certain genes to their children. A person's appearance -- height, hair color, ski...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Causes Antithrombin III is a protein in the blood that blocks blood clots from forming. It helps the body keep a healthy balance between bleeding and clotting. Congenital antithrombin III deficiency is an inherited disease. It occurs when a person receives one variant copy of the antithrombin III gene from a parent with the disease.The variant gene leads to a low level of the antithrombin III protein. This low level of antithrombin III can cause blood clots (thrombi) that can block blood flow and damage organs. People with this condition will often have blood clots at a young age for no reason. They are also likely to have family members who have had a blood clotting problem. Symptoms People will usually have symptoms of a blood clot. Blood clots in the arms or legs usually cause swelling, redness, and pain. When a blood clot breaks off from where it formed and travels to another part of the body, it is called a thromboembolism. Symptoms depend on where the blood clot travels to. A common place is the lung, where the clot can cause a cough, shortness of breath, pain while taking deep breaths, chest pain, and even death. Blood clots that travel to the brain can cause a stroke.ThromboembolismDeep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a condition that occurs when a blood clot forms in a vein deep inside a part of the body. DVT mainly affects the large...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article StrokeA stroke occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain stops. A stroke is sometimes called a "brain attack. " If blood flow is cut off for longer th...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Exams and Tests A physical exam may show:A swollen leg or arm Decreased breath sounds in the lungs Breath sounds in the lungsBreath sounds are the noises produced by the structures of the lungs during breathing.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article A rapid heart rateYour health care provider can also order a blood test to check if you have a low level of antithrombin III. Blood testAntithrombin III (AT III) is a protein that helps control blood clotting. A blood test can determine the amount of AT III present in your body....Read Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment A blood clot is treated with blood-thinning medicines (also called anticoagulants). How long you need to take these medicines depends on how serious the blood clot was and other factors. Discuss this with your provider. Support Groups More information and support for people with congenital antithrombin III deficiency and their families can be found at:National Organization for Rare Disorders -- rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/antithrombin-deficiency/ MedlinePlus -- medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/hereditary-antithrombin-deficiency/ National Blood Clot Alliance -- www.stoptheclot.org/programs-services/ Outlook (Prognosis) Most people have a good outcome if they stay on anticoagulant medicines. Possible Complications Blood clots can cause death. Blood clots in the lungs are very dangerous. When to Contact a Medical Professional See your provider if you have symptoms of this condition. Prevention Once a person is diagnosed with antithrombin III deficiency, all close family members should be screened for this disorder. Blood-thinning medicines can prevent blood clots from forming and prevent complications from clotting.Open ReferencesReferencesAnderson JAM, Weitz JI. Hypercoagulable states. In: Hoffman R, Benz EJ, Silberstein LE, et al, eds. Hematology: Basic Principles and Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 138.Schafer AI. Thrombotic disorders: hypercoagulable states. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 67.AllVideoImagesTogVenous blood clot - illustration Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) affects mainly the veins in the lower leg and the thigh. It involves the formation of a clot (thrombus) in the larger veins of the area.Venous blood clotillustrationVenous blood clot - illustration Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) affects mainly the veins in the lower leg and the thigh. It involves the formation of a clot (thrombus) in the larger veins of the area.Venous blood clotillustration Tests for Congenital antithrombin III deficiency Antithrombin III blood testRelated Information Antithrombin III blood test(Medical Test)Protein in diet(Nutrition)Blood clots(Condition) Review Date: 2/3/2025 Reviewed By: Warren Brenner, MD, Oncologist, Lynn Cancer Institute, Boca Raton, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. 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Congenital antithrombin III deficiencyDeficiency - antithrombin III - congenital; Antithrombin III deficiency - congenitalCongenital antithrombin III (three) deficiency is a genetic disorder that causes the blood to clot more than normal.GeneticGenetics is the study of heredity, the process of a parent passing certain genes to their children. A person's appearance -- height, hair color, ski...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Causes Antithrombin III is a protein in the blood that blocks blood clots from forming. It helps the body keep a healthy balance between bleeding and clotting. Congenital antithrombin III deficiency is an inherited disease. It occurs when a person receives one variant copy of the antithrombin III gene from a parent with the disease.The variant gene leads to a low level of the antithrombin III protein. This low level of antithrombin III can cause blood clots (thrombi) that can block blood flow and damage organs. People with this condition will often have blood clots at a young age for no reason. They are also likely to have family members who have had a blood clotting problem. Symptoms People will usually have symptoms of a blood clot. Blood clots in the arms or legs usually cause swelling, redness, and pain. When a blood clot breaks off from where it formed and travels to another part of the body, it is called a thromboembolism. Symptoms depend on where the blood clot travels to. A common place is the lung, where the clot can cause a cough, shortness of breath, pain while taking deep breaths, chest pain, and even death. Blood clots that travel to the brain can cause a stroke.ThromboembolismDeep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a condition that occurs when a blood clot forms in a vein deep inside a part of the body. DVT mainly affects the large...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article StrokeA stroke occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain stops. A stroke is sometimes called a "brain attack. " If blood flow is cut off for longer th...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Exams and Tests A physical exam may show:A swollen leg or arm Decreased breath sounds in the lungs Breath sounds in the lungsBreath sounds are the noises produced by the structures of the lungs during breathing.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article A rapid heart rateYour health care provider can also order a blood test to check if you have a low level of antithrombin III. Blood testAntithrombin III (AT III) is a protein that helps control blood clotting. A blood test can determine the amount of AT III present in your body....Read Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment A blood clot is treated with blood-thinning medicines (also called anticoagulants). How long you need to take these medicines depends on how serious the blood clot was and other factors. Discuss this with your provider. Support Groups More information and support for people with congenital antithrombin III deficiency and their families can be found at:National Organization for Rare Disorders -- rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/antithrombin-deficiency/ MedlinePlus -- medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/hereditary-antithrombin-deficiency/ National Blood Clot Alliance -- www.stoptheclot.org/programs-services/ Outlook (Prognosis) Most people have a good outcome if they stay on anticoagulant medicines. Possible Complications Blood clots can cause death. Blood clots in the lungs are very dangerous. When to Contact a Medical Professional See your provider if you have symptoms of this condition. Prevention Once a person is diagnosed with antithrombin III deficiency, all close family members should be screened for this disorder. Blood-thinning medicines can prevent blood clots from forming and prevent complications from clotting.Open ReferencesReferencesAnderson JAM, Weitz JI. Hypercoagulable states. In: Hoffman R, Benz EJ, Silberstein LE, et al, eds. Hematology: Basic Principles and Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 138.Schafer AI. Thrombotic disorders: hypercoagulable states. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 67.
