title: Low levels of the anticoagulant activity of protein C in patients with chronic renal insufficiency: an inhibitor of protein C is present in uremic plasma.
abstract: Twenty-nine of 54 uremic patients had low levels of protein C measured as anticoagulant activity, contrasting with normal levels measured as amidolytic activity or antigenic concentration. We demonstrate that this discrepancy is due to the presence of a soluble plasma inhibitor that interferes specifically with the anticoagulant activity of activated protein C. The inhibitor does not interfere with other coagulation assays. It is resistant to diisopropylfluorophosphate, high temperatures and repeated freezing and thawing. It can be dissociated from protein C by anti-protein C antibodies or by dialysis in vitro and in vivo. It binds to positively charged resins and can be eluted with high salt concentrations without losing its inhibitory capacity. The inhibitory effect is correlated with plasma creatinine levels and fluctuates with time.
authors.affiliation: A. Bianchi Bonomi Hemophilia and Thrombosis Center, IRCCS Maggiore Hospital, Bergamo, Italy.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Faioni
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Franchi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Krachmalnicoff
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Valsecchi
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Viganò
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Remuzzi
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Mannucci
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001464:Barium; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010314:Partial Thromboplastin Time; D011486:Protein C / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D014511:Uremia / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D011486:Protein C; D001464:Barium