MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Congenital antithrombin III deficiency

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Congenital antithrombin III deficiency

Contents of this page:
Illustrations Alternative Names	Definition Causes

Illustrations

Venous blood clot

Alternative Names Return to top

Deficiency - antithrombin III - congenital; Antithrombin III deficiency - congenital

Definition Return to top

Antithrombin III deficiency is a genetic disorder that causes the blood to clot abnormally.

Causes Return to top

Antithrombin III is a protein in the blood that blocks blood clots from forming. Congenital antithrombin III deficiency is a genetic disease. It occurs when a person receives one abnormal copy of a gene from a parent with the disease.

The abnormal gene leads to low levels of antithrombin III. These low levels of antithrombin III can cause abnormal blood clots (thrombi) that may damage organs.

Update Date: 4/27/2007

Updated by: Rita Nanda, M.D., Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology/Oncology, University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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