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Thromb Haemost 1985; 54(02): 445-449
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1657869
Original Article
Schattauer GmbH Stuttgart

Protein C Levels in Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation and Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura: Its Correlation with Other Coagulation Parameters

Hoyu Takahashi
The First Department of Internal Medicine, Niigata University School of Medicine, Niigata, Japan
,
Etsuko Takakuwa
The First Department of Internal Medicine, Niigata University School of Medicine, Niigata, Japan
,
Noriko Yoshino
The First Department of Internal Medicine, Niigata University School of Medicine, Niigata, Japan
,
Masaharu Hanano
The First Department of Internal Medicine, Niigata University School of Medicine, Niigata, Japan
,
Akira Shibata
The First Department of Internal Medicine, Niigata University School of Medicine, Niigata, Japan
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received 04 February 1985

Accepted 08 May 1985

Publication Date:
18 July 2018 (online)

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Summary

Protein C was measured by means of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in plasmas from 58 normal subjects, 39 patients with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and 5 patients with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). Protein C levels ranged from 69.7 to 163.6% (95% confidence limits) in normal subjects. In patients with DIC, protein C concentrations were significantly decreased, with a geometric mean value of 42.1%. Protein C concentration was positively correlated with plasma prothrombin, antithrombin III and serum pseudocholinesterase, and was negatively correlated with von Willebrand factor antigen (vWF: Ag) and vWF: Ag/factor VIII ratio. These findings suggest that low protein C concentrations in DIC mean a consumption of protein C probably due to its activation by thrombin and/or impaired liver synthetic function. In patients with TTP, protein C levels were normal with a geometric mean value of 116.7%, indicating that the pathophysiology of TTP is quite different from that of DIC.

Keywords

Protein C - Disseminated intravascular coagulation - Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura - Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) - von Willebrand factor
 

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