Abstract
Protein C (PC) was measured by means of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in plasmas from 25 patinents with childhood DIC. PC level of all patients was significantly low in comparison with the age-matched normal value. PC level was positively correlated with plasma antithrombin III (AT III) level. Disturbance of γ-carboxylation was detected by measurement of PIVKA-II in 7 out of 25 patients. PC level began to increase within 4 days after initiation of the heparin therapy. These findings suggested that low PC level in DIC was due to mainly consumption of PC and that disturbance of PC production was also associated with low PC level in some patients.
