The intraperitoneal fibrin formation and its inhibition by intraperitoneal heparin and/or antithrombin III (AT III) were examined in 8 patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). With 1,000 and 2,000 U/L of heparin added to inflow dialysate, the concentration of fibrinopeptide A (FPA) in plasma decreased from 39.43 +/- 5.30 (mean +/- SEM) to 8.00 +/- 2.20 and to 0.74 +/- 0.12 ng/ml, respectively. The FPA concentration in outflow dialysate decreased from 34.20 +/- 5.75 to 12.94 +/- 2.10 ng/ml (1,000 U/l of heparin) and to 4.54 +/- 0.79 ng/mg (2,000 U/l of heparin). The AT III concentration was 0.47 +/- 0.07 mg/dl in dialysate and that in plasma was 24.20 +/- 2.76 mg/dl. With 100 U/bag of AT III added to inflow dialysate, the AT III concentration increased from 0.47 +/- 0.07 to 3.36 +/- 0.17 mg/dl in outflow dialysate but did not increase in plasma. The inhibition of fibrin formation of intraperitoneal heparin was increased by addition of AT III without a systemic inhibitory effect on fibrin formation. These data suggest that intraperitoneal administration of heparin without AT III would be sufficient for the purpose of preventing fibrin formation in CAPD patients without any trouble, and additional AT III might increase inhibitory effect of heparin.