Clinical study on deficiency of anticoagulant proteins in patients with pulmonary thromboembolism

Abstract

Objective To explore the incidence of anticoagulant proteins deficiency and clinical features of Chinese patients with pulmonary thromboembolism(PTE). Methods From January 2006 to May 2008,the activities of antithrombin(AT), protein C(PC), protein S(PS) and activitied protein C sensitivity ratio(APC-SR) of 63 patients with PTE were measured. Results Twenty-nine patients with PTE(46.0%) were found to be anticoagulant proteins deficiency. Eleven cases(17.5%) were PC deficiency. Eight cases (12.7%) were PS deficiency. Three cases(4.8 % ) were AT deficiency. Two cases(3.2 %) were resistance to activated protein C(APC-R). Five cases(7.9 %) were combined deficiency, including combined AT and PC (one case) , combined PC and PS (three cases), combined PS and APC-R (one case). Compared with the control group, the patients with anticoagulant proteins deficiency had earlier onset, (56.1±13.6) years old vs (44.2±11.7)years old (P<0.01). Conclusions The major deficiencies of anticoagulant proteins in Chinese patients with PTE are PC deficiency, PS deficiency and AT deficiency, APC-R is rare. It suggests that the etiology of thrombophilia may be different from that of Western countries. Key words: Pulmonary embolism; Anticoagulant protein; Thrombophilia