Sensitivity to activated protein C during the menstrual cycle in women with and without factor VLeiden.
BACKGROUND
Activated protein C (APC) resistance is associated with an increased risk of venous thrombosis. High levels of estradiol and progesterone, e.g. during ovarian stimulation and pregnancy, as well as exogenously administered estrogens and progestagens during oral contraceptive use, induce an acquired form of APC resistance. Several coagulation factors display a cyclic pattern during the menstrual cycle due to the fluctuation of estradiol and progesterone. The aim of the study was to evaluate whether varying levels of estradiol and progesterone during the menstrual cycle are associated with differences in sensitivity to APC.


METHODS
Normalized APC sensitivity ratios (nAPCsr) were determined with the thrombin generation-based APC-resistance test at six different time points during the menstrual cycle in thirteen wildtype women and six women with factor VLeiden.


RESULTS
Mean nAPCsr varied slightly during the menstrual cycle. Women without factor VLeiden were more likely to have lower nAPCsr at the beginning of the cycle than later on in the cycle (1.34 versus 1.54 and 1.58, Friedman ranking test p=0.009).


CONCLUSIONS
The sensitivity to APC differs between the different phases of the menstrual cycle. This cyclic variability could be useful in improving studies on APC resistance in women.
van Vliet
Huib A A M
HA
Department of Gynaecology, Division of Reproductive Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands. haam.vliet@worldonline.nl
Rodrigues
Sharon P
SP
Snieders
Marieke N E
MN
van der Meer
Felix J M
FJ
Frolich
Marijke
M
Rosendaal
Frits R
FR
Rosing
Jan
J
Helmerhorst
Frans M
FM
D020016:Activated Protein C Resistance / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D001780:Blood Coagulation Tests; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood*; D005165:Factor V / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000097:blood*; D009154:Mutation; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood*; D011486:Protein C / Q000494:pharmacology; D011516:Prothrombin / Q000235:genetics; D012016:Reference Values; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013917:Thrombin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors
D011486:Protein C; C095381:factor V Leiden; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D005165:Factor V; D011516:Prothrombin; D013917:Thrombin