More R&D Required To Comprehend the Mechanisms of Antithrombin on Cardiovascular Health and Leukemia
Antithrombin is an essential amino acid. It is the basic building
block of all living organisms. Because it is the easiest to produce, it is an
important component of cellular membranes and many other metabolic pathways. In
addition to this role, it is also vital for maintaining cellular stability and
the production of energy.
As with all amino acids, there are six different positions that
can be occupied by the molecule, namely: A, T, G, E, K, and S. This unique
property of amino acid allows for the simultaneous occurrence of two distinct
conformations, or isomers, of antithrombin. In addition, there is another
interesting factor to consider. While there is only one inactivating factor,
there are two forms of antithrombin, each having a dissimilar and highly
dissimilar half-life in the bloodstream.
In fact, the most widely used method to measure the efficacy of a
pharmaceutical is the effect on coagulation factors. Specifically, this factor
refers to the ability of the substance to stop platelets from clumping together
and creating blood clots. While antithrombin deficiency
can have some effects on this factor, it usually only shows itself in a
positive pregnancy test for women with platelet-rich blood. It has also been
found to reduce clotting times in patients with heparin-deficient conditions
such as rheumatoid arthritis and dialysis.
Studies done on animals have shown that the antithrombin molecule
is much larger than its protein counterpart. While the molecule is very similar
to fibrin, which is the material that fibrin is made of, it is actually 30%
smaller. This factor allows for the antithrombin to bind with a far smaller
concentration of platelets, reducing the likelihood of fibrin clots forming. It
also allows for fibrin to adhere to arteries, preventing blood clots from
forming in the extremities. While these results have yet to be studied in
humans, it is currently being considered as a treatment for cardiovascular
disorders.
In a study conducted in 2019 by researchers from Children’s
Hospital of Eastern Switzerland and Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel and
University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany, assessed whether
enoxaparin or antithrombin reduces the incidence of thromboembolism as compared
to unfractionated heparin. The team found that prophylactic use of antithrombin
or enoxaparin significantly reduced thromboembolism. However, there is less
understanding regarding the effect of antithrombin on the leukemia outcome.
There is no doubt that antithrombin deficiency will affect those
who do not produce the protein within their bodies. For this reason, pregnant
women are strongly encouraged to take the supplement, in addition to other
medications they may be taking. While the scientific research regarding the
benefits of antithrombin in the prevention of cardiovascular disease is not entirely
complete, this supplement has shown promise in the early field of clinical
medicine. It’s potential for reducing cardiovascular morbidity and mortality is
probably due to the fact that it increases fibrinogen levels and decreases the
activity of coagulation factors. Further research is required to better
understand the mechanisms by which antithrombin acts to improve cardiovascular
health.
Comments
Post a Comment