Study of quantitative modifications of the plasma protein S system components in non-acute inflammatory syndromes

Thrombosis frequently accompanies inflammatory disease. There are numerous and frequent modifications of haemostasis parameters during inflammatory disease. Deficiencies in protein S, a protein C cofactor, are predisposing factors for thromboses. In 43 patients with biological inflammatory syndromes (ESR above 80 mm in the first hour found twice in a three-day period and disturbances of other biological inflammatory markers) we studied the variations of the protein S system: total antigenic protein S, free antigenic protein S, C4b BP, all antigenic fractions being assayed by electro-immuno diffusion. The results show an increase in free protein S (mean 114.3%, range 25%-180%, P less than 0.005), the biologically active fraction of protein S. They also evidence the expected increase in C4b BP (mean 188.3%, range 41%-335%, P less than 10(-5]. There is an increase in total protein S Ag (mean 145.3%, range 56%-220%, P less than 10(-5]. The results show a high positive correlation between the increased free protein S Ag and total protein S Ag (r' = 0.78, P less than 0.01), between total protein S and C4b BP (r' = 0.8, P less than 0.01) and between free protein S and C4b BP (r' = 0.73, P less than 0.01). C4b BP concentrations are correlated with haptoglobin (r' = 0.59, P less than 0.01), orosomucoid (r' = 0.53, P less than 0.01), C3 complement component (r' = 0.80, P less than 0.01), C4 (r' = 0.39, P less than 0.02) and platelet count (r' = 0.51, P less than 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)