title: Protein C deficiency and stroke in early life.
abstract: Plasma concentrations of protein C, protein S and antithrombin III were measured in 33 unselected children with a history of cryptogenic stroke (group 1), four children with previously ascertained low plasma concentrations of protein C following stroke (group 2) and 42 healthy children undergoing minor surgery (group 3). Protein S and antithrombin III were normal in all patients. Low concentrations of protein C were found in two patients in group 1 and in six healthy children in group 3. Low protein C concentrations returned to normal over many months in three of the four patients in group 2. Prophylactic antithrombotic therapy and/or termination of pregnancy had been carried out unneccessarily in two families in whom inherited protein C deficiency was not confirmed. The suggestion that heterozygous protein C deficiency contributes to the risk of arterial stroke was not supported by this study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Neurology, Southampton General Hospital, UK.
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Warner
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kai
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chisholm
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000990:Antithrombin III / Q000032:analysis; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011486:Protein C / Q000032:analysis; D020151:Protein C Deficiency; D017293:Protein S / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D011486:Protein C; D017293:Protein S; D000990:Antithrombin III