The Effect of Fulminant Hepatic Failure on Protein C Antigen and Activity

Summary

In eighteen patients with fulminant hepatic failure (FHF), ingrade III or IV coma, both protein C antigen and activity weresignificantly decreased (0.35 ± 0.03 u/ml and 0.35 ± 0.03 u/ml respectively). There was a significant correlation between pro-tein C antigen and activity (r = 0.61, p <0.01). Protein C antigenlevels were inversely correlated with prothrombin time (r =−0.57, p <0.05) as were protein C activity levels (r = —0.57, p<0.05). There was also significant correlations between fibrinogen and protein C antigen (r = 0.69, p <0.01) and protein Cactivity (r = 0.61, p <0.01). These results demonstrate that thenaturally occurring inhibitor of coagulation, protein C, is presentat low levels in FHF and this is probably due to the lack ofsynthesis of the protein in the damaged liver. The low levels ofprotein C may make these patients more susceptible to thedisseminated intravascular coagulation which is known to occur inFHF and this in turn will lead to a further reduction in protein Clevels.

Keywords

Protein C - Fulminant hepatic failure

• References

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