Protein C in the neonatal period.
Protein-C activity and antigen were measured in 141 full-term infants during the first month of life. The levels of both protein-C activity and antigen were about one third the level for normal adults in cord blood, and significantly lower than the cord blood during the 1st to 2nd days of life. They increased with age progressively, but did not reach the lowest limit in normal adults even in the first month. The low ratio of protein-C activity and antigen was demonstrated in some infants within the first 4 days of life. The precipitin arc of neonatal infants, which had a discrepancy between protein-C activity and antigen levels, showed an anodal shift upon agarose gel electrophoresis in the presence of Ca2+. The abnormal protein C in the neonatal period may be regarded as protein induced by vitamin-K absence or antagonist.
Takamiya
O
O
Department of Clinical Pathology, Osaka National Hospital, Japan.
Kinoshita
S
S
Niinomi
K
K
Yoshioka
K
K
D001942:Breast Feeding; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000097:blood*; D011233:Precipitin Tests; D011486:Protein C / Q000032:analysis*; D020151:Protein C Deficiency; D014812:Vitamin K / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology
D011486:Protein C; D014812:Vitamin K