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Protein C levels in ischaemic heart disease
L Ganapathyraman1, P Shanthi, K Baba Krishnan
1Department of Pathology, University of Madras, Taramani, Madras.
Insights
Levels of protein C, a glycoprotein with anticoagulant properties, were elevated in patients with ischemic heart disease. This suggests protein C plays a protective role in compensating for hypercoagulable states in heart disease.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Hematology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Protein C is a key circulating glycoprotein known for its anticoagulant properties.
- Ischemic heart disease is associated with a hypercoagulable state.
- The role of protein C in ischemic heart disease requires further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine functional and immunological levels of protein C in patients with ischemic heart disease.
- To compare protein C levels in patients with different subgroups of ischemic heart disease and healthy controls.
- To investigate the potential compensatory role of protein C in ischemic heart disease.
Main Methods:
- Functional protein C levels were measured using a sensitive colorimetric assay.
- Antigenic protein C levels were determined using ELISA.
- Study included 34 patients with ischemic heart disease and 12 healthy controls.
Main Results:
- Mean protein C activity and antigenic levels were significantly elevated in patients with ischemic heart disease compared to controls.
- Elevated protein C levels were observed across all ischemic heart disease subgroups: acute myocardial infarction, previous myocardial infarction, and chronic stable angina.
- The most significant elevation in protein C levels was noted in the acute myocardial infarction group.
Conclusions:
- The findings support the hypothesis that increased synthesis of protein C occurs in ischemic heart disease.
- Elevated protein C levels may represent a compensatory mechanism against the hypercoagulable state characteristic of heart disease.
- Protein C likely plays a protective role in mitigating the prothrombotic tendencies in ischemic heart disease.
Abstract:
Protein C is a circulating glycoprotein with anticoagulant properties. Functional and immunological levels of protein C were determined in 34 cases of ischaemic heart disease and 12 healthy age-matched controls. The sensitive colorimetric assay was used to determine the functional levels and ELISA for antigenic levels. Mean protein C activity and antigenic levels were found to be elevated in these patients as compared to controls. Protein C levels in the three individual subgroups-acute myocardial infarction, previous myocardial infarction and chronic stable angina pectoris-were also raised as compared to controls. The elevation was significant in the case of the acute myocardial infarction group. These results further support the hypothesis that the body synthesises increased amounts of protein C in ischaemic heart disease to compensate for the hypercoagulable state that exists in this disorder, thus playing a protective role.