title: Protein S and protein C levels in Chinese women during pregnancy, delivery and the puerperium.
abstract: The plasma levels of protein S and protein C related antigens were determined in a group of normal pregnant Chinese women and a group of normal non-pregnant controls, using the sandwich technique of enzyme immunoassay with commercial kits. Compared with non-pregnant controls, plasma protein S levels were significantly lower during pregnancy, labour, parturition and the early puerperium. There was no significant difference in protein S levels between pregnancy, labour and puerperium. On the other hand, maternal plasma protein C levels during pregnancy and before delivery were similar to those in controls, but a significant increase was found during the third stage of labour. This increase did not persist into the early puerperium. The observed increase in protein C level immediately after delivery in our study may represent a physiological response to counter the tendency towards venous thrombosis in the parturient women, and may help to explain the almost negligible occurrence of thromboembolism in Chinese obstetric patients.
authors.affiliation: Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, N.T.
authors.forename: T T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Lao
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Yuen
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Yin
mesh_terms: D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000097:blood; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*; D011486:Protein C / Q000032:analysis*; D017293:Protein S
chemical_list: D006023:Glycoproteins; D011486:Protein C; D017293:Protein S