Protein Z, a new haemostatic factor, in liver diseases.
Protein Z is a vitamin K-dependent plasma protein, which promotes the association of thrombin with phospholipid surfaces. Deficiency states of protein Z have recently been shown in patients with a bleeding tendency of an otherwise unknown origin. In the present study severe diminutions of blood plasma protein Z were found in patients with chronic liver diseases. Protein Z levels decreased with increasing severity of liver disease. Strong correlations between protein Z and other plasma proteins of liver origin indicate that protein Z primarily originates from the liver. The cutaneous bleeding tendency in cirrhosis may in part be due to protein Z deficiency.
Kemkes-Matthes
B
B
Zentrum für Innere Medizin der Universität Giessen, Germany.
Matthes
K J
KJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000172:deficiency*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D006487:Hemostasis / Q000502:physiology*; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis
D001798:Blood Proteins; C026080:plasma protein Z