title: Associations between pre-eclampsia and protein C and protein S levels among pregnant Nigerian women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate levels of protein C and free protein S among women with pre-eclampsia, and determine whether there is a relationship between deficiencies and pre-eclampsia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted at a hospital in Nigeria from July 2013 to March 2014 among 90 pregnant women with pre-eclampsia (blood pressure ≥140/90 mm Hg, proteinuria ≥300 mg in 24 hours) and 90 normotensive pregnant women (control group). Plasma levels of protein C and free protein S were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and protein C activity by a chromogenic method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean protein C antigen and activity levels did not differ between groups (P=0.639 and P=0.444, respectively). The incidence of protein C antigen and activity deficiency also did not differ (P=0.288 and P>0.99, respectively). The mean free protein S antigen level was higher among women with pre-eclampsia (54.48%±19.58%) than in the control group (47.23%±10.27%; P=0.004). No woman in the control group had protein S deficiency, as compared with 2 (2%) of the women with pre-eclampsia (P=0.497). No association was found between deficiencies of these proteins and pre-eclampsia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Deficiencies of protein C and free protein S are unlikely to be etiopathogenetic for pre-eclampsia; therefore, therapeutic intervention should focus on other potential pathogenetic pathways.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology and Immunology, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Helen C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Okoye
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Lisa I
authors.initials: LI
authors.lastname: Eweputanna
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Anthony O U
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Okpani
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Oseikhuemen A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Ejele
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009549:Nigeria; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011486:Protein C / Q000032:analysis*; D017293:Protein S / Q000032:analysis*; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D011486:Protein C; D017293:Protein S
keywords: Hypertension; Pre-eclampsia; Protein C; Protein S; Proteinuria; Thrombophilia