Sensitivity to activated protein C; influence of oral contraceptives and sex.
We investigated sensitivity to activated protein C (APC) in 43 men, 42 women not using oral contraceptives (OC) and 38 women using OC containing 30.0-37.5 micrograms ethinyl estradiol. A commercially available kit was used. Men were more sensitive to APC as compared with women not using OC (p < 0.005), but this difference seems not to be of clinical importance. Women using OC showed to be significantly less sensitive to APC, reflected by a lower APC-ratio, as compared with men (p < 0.005) and women not using OC (p < 0.05). So, in normal individuals the APC-sensitivity differs according to sex and estrogen intake. This should be taken into account when interpreting APC-ratios.
Henkens
C M
CM
University Hospital, Division of Haemostasis, Thrombosis and Rheology, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Bom
V J
VJ
Seinen
A J
AJ
van der Meer
J
J
D000328:Adult; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D004351:Drug Resistance; D005165:Factor V / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010314:Partial Thromboplastin Time; D011486:Protein C / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000139:chemically induced
D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined; D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal; D011486:Protein C; D005165:Factor V