Hereditary antithrombin (AT) deficiency is an important risk factor for venous thromboembolism (VTE), underscoring the need for a highly sensitive diagnostic method. Although the chromogenic (functional) AT activity assay is the method of choice, its usefulness is limited by the variable sensitivity of commercial assays to different genetic variants. The aim of this doctoral dissertation was to conduct a meta‑analysis and a clinical study to explore the genetic background of AT deficiency in Slovenian patients, evaluate the diagnostic sensitivity of functional assays, define clinical differences among AT deficiency (sub)types, and develop an optimal diagnostic approach in Slovenia. A total of 212 patients were included. A genetic cause was identified in 85% of patients with reduced AT activity: 81% carried a SERPINC1 variant and 4% a variant in a gene affecting AT N‑glycosylation. The most common variant was AT Padua I (p.Arg79His), present in 49% of patients. The sensitivity of functional assays varied markedly across detected variants: two assays detected nearly all variants (98% sensitivity), whereas the least sensitive reached only 46% sensitivity. Sensitivity differed particularly for subtype II variants affecting the reactive site (IIRS) or the heparin‑binding site (IIHBS). Based on these findings, the proposed diagnostic approach combines a highly sensitive functional assay with genotyping for the AT Dublin variant (p.Val30Glu), which cannot be reliably detected by any functional assay due to its pathophysiological mechanism. Compared with AT activity measurement alone, determination of AT deficiency (sub)type allows better assessment of recurrence risk and thrombosis type: type I deficiency was associated with early and recurrent VTE, while arterial thrombosis (ATE) was common in patients with subtype IIHBS. Because of this association, we propose screening also in younger patients with ATE. The proposed diagnostic approach enables more reliable detection and more personalized treatment of patients with hereditary AT deficiency.
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