Laboratory Limitations of Excluding Hereditary Protein C Deficiency by Chromogenic Assay: Discrepancies of Phenotype and Genotype

Protein C (PC) deficiency is associated with an increased risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE). In daily practice, exclusion of a hereditary PC deficiency is often based on a single determination of PC activity, by either clotting time–based or mostly chromogenic assay. However, diagnosis of heredi...

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Main Authors: Holger Seidel MD, Bianca Haracska BSc, Jennifer Naumann PhD, Philipp Westhofen PhD, Moritz Sebastian Hass MSc, Johannes Philipp Kruppenbacher MD
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2020-04-01
Series:Clinical and Applied Thrombosis/Hemostasis
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/1076029620912028
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author Holger Seidel MD
Bianca Haracska BSc
Jennifer Naumann PhD
Philipp Westhofen PhD
Moritz Sebastian Hass MSc
Johannes Philipp Kruppenbacher MD
author_facet Holger Seidel MD
Bianca Haracska BSc
Jennifer Naumann PhD
Philipp Westhofen PhD
Moritz Sebastian Hass MSc
Johannes Philipp Kruppenbacher MD
author_sort Holger Seidel MD
collection DOAJ
description Protein C (PC) deficiency is associated with an increased risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE). In daily practice, exclusion of a hereditary PC deficiency is often based on a single determination of PC activity, by either clotting time–based or mostly chromogenic assay. However, diagnosis of hereditary PC deficiency is challenging due to several laboratory and clinical limitations. We compared the potential of PC activity values measured by either chromogenic or clotting time–based assay to predict a variation in the PROC gene. One hundred one (35%) of 287 patients carried variations within the PROC gene, including 2 previously not published variations. In 20 (20%) patients with identified variation, PC activity, determined by chromogenic assay, was within the reference range. For prediction of an underlying genetic defect determined by chromogenic and clotting time–based assay, sensitivity was 80% versus 99%, specificity 75% versus 18%, positive predictive value 64% versus 39%, and negative predictive value (NPV) 88% versus 97%. The lower NPV of chromogenic versus clotting time–based PC assay can be mainly explained by the presence of PC deficiency type IIb. Following our proposed diagnostic algorithm, additional measurement of PC activity by clotting time–based assay in case of a positive VTE history improves detection of this subtype of PC deficiency. Considering potential therapeutic consequences for primary and especially for secondary VTE prophylaxis, genetic analysis is required not only for confirmation but also for clarification of PC deficiency.
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spelling doaj.art-8c4597f33e2f4e6dba7f8a808c67ac5f2022-12-22T00:56:31ZengSAGE PublishingClinical and Applied Thrombosis/Hemostasis1938-27232020-04-012610.1177/1076029620912028Laboratory Limitations of Excluding Hereditary Protein C Deficiency by Chromogenic Assay: Discrepancies of Phenotype and GenotypeHolger Seidel MD0Bianca Haracska BSc1Jennifer Naumann PhD2Philipp Westhofen PhD3Moritz Sebastian Hass MSc4Johannes Philipp Kruppenbacher MD5 Centrum für Blutgerinnungsstörungen und Transfusionsmedizin, Bonn, Germany Centrum für Blutgerinnungsstörungen und Transfusionsmedizin, Bonn, Germany Centrum für Blutgerinnungsstörungen und Transfusionsmedizin, Bonn, Germany Centrum für Blutgerinnungsstörungen und Transfusionsmedizin, Bonn, Germany Centrum für Blutgerinnungsstörungen und Transfusionsmedizin, Bonn, Germany Centrum für Blutgerinnungsstörungen und Transfusionsmedizin, Bonn, GermanyProtein C (PC) deficiency is associated with an increased risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE). In daily practice, exclusion of a hereditary PC deficiency is often based on a single determination of PC activity, by either clotting time–based or mostly chromogenic assay. However, diagnosis of hereditary PC deficiency is challenging due to several laboratory and clinical limitations. We compared the potential of PC activity values measured by either chromogenic or clotting time–based assay to predict a variation in the PROC gene. One hundred one (35%) of 287 patients carried variations within the PROC gene, including 2 previously not published variations. In 20 (20%) patients with identified variation, PC activity, determined by chromogenic assay, was within the reference range. For prediction of an underlying genetic defect determined by chromogenic and clotting time–based assay, sensitivity was 80% versus 99%, specificity 75% versus 18%, positive predictive value 64% versus 39%, and negative predictive value (NPV) 88% versus 97%. The lower NPV of chromogenic versus clotting time–based PC assay can be mainly explained by the presence of PC deficiency type IIb. Following our proposed diagnostic algorithm, additional measurement of PC activity by clotting time–based assay in case of a positive VTE history improves detection of this subtype of PC deficiency. Considering potential therapeutic consequences for primary and especially for secondary VTE prophylaxis, genetic analysis is required not only for confirmation but also for clarification of PC deficiency.https://doi.org/10.1177/1076029620912028
spellingShingle Holger Seidel MD
Bianca Haracska BSc
Jennifer Naumann PhD
Philipp Westhofen PhD
Moritz Sebastian Hass MSc
Johannes Philipp Kruppenbacher MD
Laboratory Limitations of Excluding Hereditary Protein C Deficiency by Chromogenic Assay: Discrepancies of Phenotype and Genotype
Clinical and Applied Thrombosis/Hemostasis
title Laboratory Limitations of Excluding Hereditary Protein C Deficiency by Chromogenic Assay: Discrepancies of Phenotype and Genotype
title_full Laboratory Limitations of Excluding Hereditary Protein C Deficiency by Chromogenic Assay: Discrepancies of Phenotype and Genotype
title_fullStr Laboratory Limitations of Excluding Hereditary Protein C Deficiency by Chromogenic Assay: Discrepancies of Phenotype and Genotype
title_full_unstemmed Laboratory Limitations of Excluding Hereditary Protein C Deficiency by Chromogenic Assay: Discrepancies of Phenotype and Genotype
title_short Laboratory Limitations of Excluding Hereditary Protein C Deficiency by Chromogenic Assay: Discrepancies of Phenotype and Genotype
title_sort laboratory limitations of excluding hereditary protein c deficiency by chromogenic assay discrepancies of phenotype and genotype
url https://doi.org/10.1177/1076029620912028
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