Antithrombin III in the diagnosis of infection in febrile neutropenic patients.

Antithrombin III levels in plasma were measured in 29 febrile neutropenic patients (31 episodes). They were lowest on day 2 in 62.5% of febrile patients and then increased or were normal in 81.3%. Low levels were present on day 2 in only 28.6% of patients with gram-negative infections, as compared with 33% of patients with doubtful infections.