Assessment of Protein C and Protein S of Pregnancy Loss Victims

Abstract

Background: The haemostatic changes that result in thrombophilia during the pregnant state have been linked to pregnancy loss. Objective: Assessment of Protein S, and Protein C assays in pregnancy loss victims in Abia State, South East, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving women in their reproductive years. Study population was stratified into 3 groups and the Protein C and Protein S concentrations measured and compared among the three groups. Results: A total of 130 apparently healthy Nigerian women of child-bearing age were enrolled in the study. The study groups consisted of 70 women who had just lost a pregnancy, 30 women                  with normally progressing pregnancy and 30 nonpregnant women. The protein C concentration for the pregnancy-loss subjects was significantly lower than that of the normal pregnancy at p ≤ 0.01 while that of Protein S showed non-significance (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Protein C deficiency is associated with increase in pregnancy loss.