Premium
Changes in the plasma activities of protein C and protein S during pregnancy
Author(s) -
Oruç Semra,
Saruç Murat,
Koyuncu Faik M,
Özdemir Ertan
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.734
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1479-828X
pISSN - 0004-8666
DOI - 10.1111/j.1479-828x.2000.tb01179.x
Subject(s) - pregnancy , pregnancy associated plasma protein a , medicine , protein s , blood proteins , first trimester , endocrinology , obstetrics , gestation , protein c , biology , genetics
Summary: 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 through‐out 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.