[Resistance to activated protein C in venous thromboembolic complications. Incidence and clinical manifestations].
OBJECTIVE
The frequency of activated protein C resistance is not well established for patients with venous thromboembolic disease. We studied resistance to activated protein C in patients with a past history of deep vein or superficial vein thrombosis.


METHODS
Activated protein C resistance was measured in 175 patients (37 males, 138 females; mean age 40.9 +/- 13.8 years; range 15-77) who had suffered a venous thromboembolic event more than one month earlier. Exclusion criteria were malignancy, known autoimmune disease or known coagulopathy. A control population of 50 healthy subjects were also tested to establish a normal lower limit (mean ratio minus 2 SD).


RESULTS
The lower limit was established at 2.14. According to this definition, there were 29 thromboembolic patients who were resistant to activated C protein (17%). Two of the subjects considered healthy in the control group were also resistant (4%). There was no difference for age or sex between resistant and non-resistant subjects. Comparing our findings with those reported in the literature confirmed that 3 to 5% of healthy subjects and 15 to 25% of patients with history of venous thromboembolism are resistant to activated C protein.


CONCLUSIONS
Resistance to activated C protein thus appears as a risk factor for thrombotic events which is comparatively more frequent than other causes of thrombotic disease.
Trossaërt
M
M
Service d'Hématologie biologique, Hôtel-Dieu, Paris.
Conard
J
J
Horellou
M H
MH
Samaha
M
M
Elalamy
I
I
Samama
M M
MM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001780:Blood Coagulation Tests; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011486:Protein C / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D012008:Recurrence; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D014680:Veins
D011486:Protein C
Résistance à la protéine C activée dans les accidents thrombo-emboliques veineux. Fréquence et manifestations cliniques.