Zymogen protein C concentrate for safer heterozygote surgery, "I am a guinea pig"!

Of great concern in medical surgery is the formation of blood clots, such as, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) with possible emboli reaching the lungs, thus diminishing or shutting down the oxygen transport to tissue processes. Our research has focused on producing an inexpensive protein C product via IMAC that could be used to bring blood levels to normal. Our work has emphasized safety for hereditary and acquired protein C deficient patients in all aspects of life. There are presently two expensive protein C products on the market. One is Xigris (activated protein C) produced by Eli Lilly & Co., and the second is Ceprotin, the zymogen product which is being manufactured by Baxter BioPharmaceuticals. I will be a guinea pig for my own research hypothesis in that I will have total hip replacement surgery using Ceprotin to help prevent blood clotting due to a protein C deficiency. It is difficult for surgeons and hematologists to agree on a safe procedure for protein C deficient patients undergoing major surgery. The hematologist is concerned about the potential for DVT and lung emboli, while the surgeon is also concerned about internal bleeding and infection after the surgery. The established approach would involve high doses of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) for protein C deficient patients which would be unacceptable to the surgeon. My hypothesis has recommended administration of zymogen protein C to simulate a normal blood condition where the standard protocol could be used. The validity of this hypothesis is soon to be tested.