title: [Protein C deficiency and vascular thromboses. Apropos of 2 cases and a review of the literature].
abstract: Protein C, a physiological inhibitor of coagulation, acts by inactivating coagulation factors V and VIII. It was identified 20 years ago and purified 10 years later. Its anticoagulant properties have been confirmed by the demonstration of thromboembolic diseases associated with constitutional protein C deficiency. Deficiency is defined as a less than 65 p. 100 level of the protein. There is no correlation between protein C level and clinical severity. Constitutional protein C deficiency is transmitted as an autosomal dominant trait. The protein C level observed in homozygous deficiency is about 50 p. 100, more often quantitative (type I) than qualitative (type II), the other coagulation factors being present at normal levels. Protein C deficiency is responsible for recurrent and familial thromboembolic necrosis and for cutaneous necrosis during treatment with antivitamin K drugs. Protein C assays must now be part of the aetiological evaluation of thromboembolic disease. Physiological variations in protein C levels have been encountered in neonates and pregnant women as well as in some pathological conditions, after surgery or under certain treatments. Familial inquiries are essential to detect asymptomatic protein C deficient subjects. Treatment rests on anticoagulants: antivitamin K drugs after effective heparinization in thromboembolic accidents, prevention of accidents by heparin in protein C deficient subjects and when a risk of thromboembolic disease is present. We report here one case of venous thrombosis and one case of arterial thrombosis, both being characterized by the finding of protein C deficiency during full evaluation of haemostasis factors.
authors.affiliation: Service de cardiologie A, hôpital cardiologique, Lille.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Debrueres-Gris
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lekieffre
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Werquin
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kacet
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jude
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006579:Heterozygote; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011486:Protein C / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D020151:Protein C Deficiency; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D011486:Protein C
vernacular_title: Déficit en protéine C et thromboses vasculaires. A propos de deux observations associées à une revue de la littérature.