Health Encyclopedia

Congenital protein C or S deficiency

Definition

Congenital protein C or S deficiency is a lack of proteins C or S in the fluid part of the blood. The proteins are natural substances that help prevent blood clots.

Alternative Names

Protein S deficiency; Protein C deficiency

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Congenital protein C or S deficiency is an inherited disorder, which means it is passed down through families. Congenital means it is present at birth.

The disorder causes abnormal blood clotting.

About 1 out of every 300 people has one normal gene and one faulty gene for protein C deficiency.

Protein S deficiency occurs in about 1 in 20,000 people.

Symptoms

If you have this condition, you are more likely to develop blood clots. The symptoms are the same as for deep venous thrombosis, and include:

Pain or tenderness in the affected area
Redness or swelling in the affected area

Signs and tests

Laboratory tests will be done to check for proteins C and S. If you have this disorder, you will have a lack of protein C or S.

Other tests that may be done include:

Treatment

Blood-thinning drugs (heparin and warfarin) are used to treat and prevent blood clots.

Expectations (prognosis)

The outcome is usually good with treatment, but symptoms may return.

Complications

Childhood stroke
More than one pregnancy loss (recurrent miscarriage)
Recurrent clots in the veins
Pulmonary embolism

In rare cases, using warfarin to thin the blood and prevent clots can cause brief increased clotting and severe skin wounds. Patients are at risk if they are not treated with the blood-thinning drug heparin before taking warfarin.

Calling your health care provider

Call your health care provider if you have symptoms of clotting in a vein (such as swelling and redness of the leg).

Prevention

If your health care provider diagnoses you with this disorder, you should be careful to prevent clots from forming. This can occur when the blood moves slowly in the veins, such as from prolonged bed rest during an illness, surgery, or hospital stay.

References

Schafer AI. Thrombotic disorders: hypercoagulable states. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 182.

Review Date:11/8/2008
Reviewed By:David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and James R. Mason, MD, Oncologist, Director, Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program and Stem Cell Processing Lab, Scripps Clinic, Torrey Pines, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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