Okoye Helen C, Eweputanna Lisa I, Okpani Anthony O U, Ejele Oseikhuemen A
Department of Hematology and Immunology, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu, Nigeria.
Department of Radiology, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2017 Apr;137(1):26-30. doi: 10.1002/ijgo.12085. Epub 2017 Jan 16.
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.
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.
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.
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.
