A Clearinghouse for Information about Blood Clots (DVT/)PE) and Clotting Disorders (thrombophilia) provided as a public service by the University of North Carolina Blood Research Center

Category: Protein C deficiency

  • Thrombophilia – Information Handout for Patients

    Stephan Moll, MD writes… An information article on various aspects of thrombophilia, written for patients and family members, was published today – available here – as a Vascular Disease Patient Information Page in the journal Vascular Medicine.  It addresses (a) in which patient with venous thromboembolism to consider thrombophilia  testing, (b) what tests might be appropriate to do, (c) how the test results…

  • Thrombophilia Testing – Reliable on Anticoagulants?

    Stephan Moll, MD writes…  The decision how long to treat a patient with venous thromboembolism (VTE) with anticoagulants can often be made based on the patient’s history alone, i.e. the circumstances of the VTE event (provoked versus unprovoked).  Often, no thrombophilia testing is needed.  However, if one were to do thrombophilia testing, what is the…

  • Protein C Deficiency

    Inherited protein C deficiency is considered a stronger thrombophilia. It increases the risk for venous and arterial thromboembolism, and possibly for early and late pregnancy loss and other adverse pregnancy outcomes (preeclampsia, IUGR, placental abruption).  There are 2 major causes for low protein C values:

  • Protein C Deficiency

    What is Protein C? Protein C is a protein in our blood stream, which prevents blood from clotting too much.  It’s a sort of police protein that keeps our clotting in check.  If protein C levels are low, a person will have a tendency to clot more easily.  Elevated levels of protein C, on the…

  • Pregnancy Loss and Clotting Disorders

    How common is pregnancy loss? What are the causes? Pregnancy loss (= miscarriage) in the general population is common. Most losses occur in the first trimester. As many as 5 % of women have 2 or more early losses; 1-2 % have 3 or more early losses [ref 1]. Well established risk factors for pregnancy…

  • Family Member Testing For Thrombophilia

    Background If a thrombophilia (clotting disorder) has been identified in a patient with blood clots (venous thromboembolism = VTE), the question arises whether other family members should be tested for the same thrombophilia. My Clinical Approach My approach in clinical practice to thrombophilia testing in family members is summarized in table 1: Family Member Testing. If the patient

  • Family Member Testing for Thrombophilia

    Background If a thrombophilia (clotting disorder) has been identified in a patient with blood clots (venous thromboembolism = VTE), the question arises whether other family members should be tested for the same thrombophilia. My Clinical Approach My approach in clinical practice to thrombophilia testing in family members is summarized in table 1:  Testing of Family Members.