In this investigation, we examined the relationship among three
thrombin inhibitors,
antithrombin III (ATIII),
heparin cofactor II (HCII), and alpha-2-macroglobulin (alpha2M), and several clinical tests of
heparin's effect in pediatric patients with
congenital heart disease undergoing
cardiopulmonary bypass. One hundred eighteen children were stratified into six age groups: <1 mo, 1-3 mo, 3-6 mo, 6-12 mo, 12-24 mo, and >10 yr. Baseline ATIII, HCII, and alpha2M values were measured. Baseline
celite- and
kaolin-activated clotting times (ACT) were also measured and repeated 3 min after a standard
heparin dose of 400 U/kg. Differences in ACT values before and after
heparin administration and a
heparin dose-response relationship were calculated for each patient.
Kaolin-activated ACT tests showed less variation after
heparin administration than
celite-activated tests. In contrast to what has been demonstrated in adults, ATIII showed no positive correlation with the clinical tests of
heparin's effect nor did the other
thrombin inhibitors. Additionally, patients <1 mo old had unexpectedly low levels of alpha2M accompanying their expected low levels of ATIII and HCII. Our findings raise concerns about the ability of
heparin to adequately anticoagulate these neonates during
cardiopulmonary bypass and, consequently, challenge the accuracy of ACT prolongation to truly reflect the extent of their anticoagulation.