抄録
Protein C is a vitamin K-dependent anticoagulant plasma protein, and its deficiency is known to be associated with a risk for thrombosis.
We measured plasma protein C levels of healthy Japanese adults and patients with cerebral infarction, to study whether there is any relationship between the level of protein C and the occurrence of cerebral infarction.
In healthy subjects there was no significant difference of plasma protein C level with age. However, the protein C level was significantly lower in patients with cerebral infarction than healthy adults.
The protein C level was not correlated with clinical courses, location of infarction, or severity of disease: any significant difference was not recognized in the protein C level between the patients with acute and subacute cerebral infarction, with the lesions in the cortical and perforating arteries, or with severe and mild manifestations at onset. But the protein C level was significantly decreased in patients with bad course in comparison with those with good course.
It was suggested that the low level of plasma protein C has some relevance to occurrence of cerebral infarction and furthermore the low protein C level observed at the first attack may indicate poor prognosis with likelihood of relapse.
