Protein Z levels and anti-protein Z antibodies in patients with arterial and venous thrombosis.
BACKGROUND
The thrombotic risk associated with protein Z (PZ) deficiency is unclear. Anti-protein Z (anti-PZ) has been described as a risk factor in unexplained embryo demise. The aim of our study was to evaluate a possible PZ deficiency and presence of anti-PZ antibodies on thrombotic diseases.


METHODS
We performed a case-control study on 114 patients with preexisting arterial or venous thrombosis (50 and 64, respectively). Thrombosis was studied based on etiology (creating factor risk subgroups) and on specific thrombotic disease.


RESULTS
PZ levels of patients were significantly lower compared to controls (1709+-761.3 ng/mL vs. 2437+-964.7 ng/mL P=0.001). The high arterial risk factor subgroup showed the lowest PZ level (1267.5+-609 ng/mL) whereas the rest of arterial and venous etiological subgroups presented similar PZ levels. Patients with peripheral artery disease had the lowest PZ level (1022+-966 ng/mL). The rest of arterial and venous thrombotic diseases presented similar PZ levels. A significant increased risk for arterial and venous thrombosis for the lowest (<1685 ng/mL) quartile of PZ has been founded (OR:52, P=0.001 and OR:18, P=0.007, respectively). Anti-PZ antibodies were negative in the majority of patients, although mean anti-PZ IgG antibody levels in the arterial thrombosis group were significantly higher compared to venous thrombosis and control groups (P=0.05 and P=0.005, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that both arterial and venous thrombotic events are related to low PZ levels and that low PZ concentrations are associated with thrombosis in our study. In arterial thrombosis our findings strengthen previous studies that related low PZ levels to atherosclerotic disease. Anti-PZ antibodies do not seem to play a potent role in thrombosis.
Pardos-Gea
José
J
Department of Internal Medicine, Research Unit for Autoimmune Diseases, Vall d'Hebrón University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain. jpardosgea@yahoo.es
Ordi-Ros
José
J
Serrano
Silvia
S
Balada
Eva
E
Nicolau
Inmaculada
I
Vilardell
Miquel
M
D001158:Arteries; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000172:deficiency / Q000276:immunology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012307:Risk Factors; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D014680:Veins
D001323:Autoantibodies; D001798:Blood Proteins; C026080:plasma protein Z