[Acquired protein C deficiency in ulcerative colitis. The cause of thromboembolic complications].

Abstract

Three patients with an acute exacerbation of ulcerative colitis (a 40-year-old and a 31-year-old man and a 30-year-old woman) developed a protein C deficiency (serum protein C activity between 32 and 48%). In the two men the protein C deficiency was diagnosed only after the onset of severe thromboembolic complications (cavernous sinus thrombosis; pulmonary embolism) during heparin treatment. But in the woman protein C activity was measured immediately after hospital admission (in the knowledge of the first two cases) even before heparin administration was started. All three patients received treatment with sulphasalazine (3 g daily) and fluocortolone (60 mg daily), as well as full heparinization (22,500-36,000 IU daily). Protein C activity returned to normal on remission of the ulcerative colitis (in one case only after subtotal colectomy). These case reports show that acquired protein C deficiency can be reversed by rigorous treatment of the underlying disease.

• Authors: S Korsten, H E Reis
• Journal: Deutsche medizinische Wochenschrift (1946) (Dtsch Med Wochenschr) Vol. 117 Issue 11 Pg. 419-24 (Mar 13 1992) ISSN: 0012-0472 [Print] Germany
• Vernacular Title: Erworbener Protein-C-Mangel bei Colitis ulcerosa. Ursache thromboembolischer Komplikationen.
• PMID: 1347501 (Publication Type: Case Reports, English Abstract, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Protein C
• Sulfasalazine
• Fluocortolone
• Heparin

Topics

• Adult
• Colitis, Ulcerative (complications, diagnosis, therapy)
• Combined Modality Therapy
• Drug Therapy, Combination
• Female
• Fluocortolone (administration & dosage)
• Heparin (administration & dosage)
• Humans
• Male
• Parenteral Nutrition
• Protein C (analysis)
• Protein C Deficiency
• Sulfasalazine (administration & dosage)
• Thromboembolism (diagnosis, etiology, therapy)