title: Changes in the plasma activities of protein C and protein S during pregnancy.
abstract: The objective of the study was to determine the changes in the plasma activities of protein C and protein S that occur during normal pregnancy In this prospective cross-sectional study, plasma activities of protein C and protein S were measured in 32 normal pregnant women in the first, second and third trimester and 6 weeks after delivery There was a significant fall in protein C and protein S activities during normal pregnancy compared with the post-puerperal period. The activities of protein C and protein S also gradually decreased throughout pregnancy (p < 0.01). Increasing plasma volume during normal pregnancy and its dilutional effect might play some role in the low activities of protein S observed. The normal falls in protein S and protein C activities make it difficult to diagnose protein S and C deficiency during pregnancy. Based on our findings, if a woman has a thromboembolic event during pregnancy, testing for a definitive diagnosis of protein C or protein S deficiency or functional failure should be delayed until at least 6 weeks postpartum.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Celal Bayar University Medical School, Manisa, Turkey.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oruç
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saruç
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Koyuncu
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ozdemir
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010953:Plasma Volume; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*; D011250:Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First / Q000097:blood; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second / Q000097:blood; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third / Q000097:blood; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011486:Protein C / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D020151:Protein C Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D017293:Protein S / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D018455:Protein S Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D011486:Protein C; D017293:Protein S