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[Immunologic determination of the protein C of coagulation: detection of deficiencies]
Insights
Protein C deficiency, even moderate, can cause serious blood clots. Two assay methods showed excellent correlation for detecting Protein C antigen levels, aiding diagnosis in thrombosis patients.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Hematology
- Clinical Diagnostics
Background:
- Protein C is a crucial regulator of thrombotic processes.
- Moderate deficiencies (0.40-0.60 U/ml) are linked to thromboembolic events.
- Accurate measurement of Protein C is vital for managing thrombotic risks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate two immunological assay kits for Protein C antigen (Ag).
- To assess the correlation between ELISA and Laurell's method for Protein C Ag measurement.
- To investigate Protein C Ag levels in patients with recurrent thrombosis.
Main Methods:
- Evaluation of immuno-enzymatic (ELISA) and Laurell's methods for Protein C Ag assay.
- Comparison of practicability, sensitivity, and precision between the two techniques.
- Analysis of Protein C Ag concentrations in normal plasmas and patients with recurrent thrombosis.
Main Results:
- Excellent correlation was observed between the ELISA and Laurell's methods.
- Normal plasma Protein C Ag concentrations ranged from 0.70 to 1.40 U/ml.
- Five out of 32 patients with recurrent thrombosis had Protein C Ag levels below 0.70 U/ml.
Conclusions:
- Both evaluated kits provide reliable measurement of Protein C Ag.
- Protein C deficiency identification can be challenging in patients on anticoagulant therapy.
- The ratio of vitamin K-dependent pro-coagulant factors to Protein C Ag may help identify deficiencies.
Abstract:
Protein C, discovered by Stenflo in 1976, plays a major role in the regulation of thrombogenic processes. Even moderate deficiencies (0.40 to 0.60 U/ml) can be responsible for serious thromboembolic accidents. The authors evaluated the kits for the immunological assay of protein C, produced by Laboratoire Diagnostica Stago: a immuno-enzymatic method (ELISA) and Laurell's method. Despite the very different characteristics in terms of practicability, threshold of sensitivity and precision, the authors obtained an excellent correlation between these two techniques. The concentrations of protein C Ag obtained in 22 normal plasmas were 0.70 to 1.40 U/ml. In 32 patients with recurrent thrombosis with no apparent cause, 5 had a concentration of protein C Ag less than 0.70 U/ml. The identification of a deficiency of protein C Ag (Vitamin K depend protein) is often made difficulty by the fact that the patients are treated with anti-vitamin K drugs. The ratio between the vitamin K depend pro-coagulation factors and Protein C Ag may provide information about a possible deficiency.