What is the lack of protein C?

Lack of protein C is a genetic feature that predisposes one to thrombotic disease in which the blood is too knocking, causing blocking blood vessels or embolism. The lack of protein C is associated with thrombosis in the veins, but not in the arteries. The condition is very rare and affects only 0.2 to 0.5% of the population.

Protein C is an anticoagulant, which means it prevents blood clotting or coagulation. Of course, clotting is a very important function of blood responsible for wound healing. However, excessive precipitation can cause their own problems, including stroke and heart attack. Therefore, the body is naturally equipped with anticoagulant regulators, one of which is the protein c.

There are two types of protein C -deficiency. In type I patient does not create sufficient protein, while type II protein does not work properly and abnormally interact with other molecules. In most of the deeds with a deficiency of protein C is only one of two genes responsible for protein C not functional, so in the blood stille there is some functioning protein C.

Some people were born with two defective copies of the gene responsible for protein C, resulting in a complete lack of protein. Although this condition is very rare, this can lead to the development of purpura Fulminans, also called purpura gangrenosa, in infants. This condition threatening life is characterized by the formation of numerous small clots in blood vessels, excessive bleeding, necrosis or tissue death, fever and low blood pressure. Lack of homozygous protein C, in which both relevant genes are defective, must be treated very soon with additional protein concentrates C.

Heterozygous deficiency of protein C, in which only one gene is defective, is usually treated with anticoagulant drugs such as aspirin, heparin or warfarin. Such medicines are usually used regularly to prevent clotting, rather in response to thrombotic epiof the sovereign. Anticoagulant drugs are usually prescribed for a long time for people with a lack of protein C, often throughout life.

In the related but extremely rare condition, drug warfarin can cause a lack of protein C in patients who were not born with the condition. Although it is an anticoagulant, warfarin also inhibits protein C. In warfarin necrosis, it prevents excessive clotting of blood flow to the skin, resulting in a lesion that eventually bleeds. Other anticoagulants do not have this problem and are sometimes served with warfarin at the beginning of warfarin treatment to prevent necrosis of warfarin.