Title:Role of Both Protein C and Antithrombin III as Predictors of Stage of Liver Disease in Chronic Viral Hepatitis B or C Infected Patients
Volume: 20
Issue: 1
Author(s): Amany M. Abo-Elenein, Maaly M. Mabrouk, Sabry Abou-Saif, Ola M. Saeed, Samy Khodeir, Mahmoud Elkadeem, Heba Elashry, Tamer Haydara, Mariam S. Zaghloul, Waseem M. Seleem, Samah A. Elshweikh and Sherief Abd-Elsalam*
Affiliation:
- Tropical Medicine & Infectious Diseases, Tanta University Faculty of Medicine, Tanta,Egypt
Keywords:
Chronic liver disease, antithrombin III, protein C, hepatitis C, hepatitis B, anticoagulants.
Abstract: Background & Aims: Chronic liver disease is characterized by complex hemostatic disorders
because the liver is the site where most of the coagulation factors and their inhibitors are synthesized.
The aim of this study was the evaluation of protein C and antithrombin III in different stages of
chronic hepatitis B and C and to determine their possible role as markers of liver cell damage in different
clinical stages.
Methods: The study included 60 subjects who were subdivided into 4 groups: (Group I): 15 patients
diagnosed as chronic viral hepatitis B or C, (Group II): 15 patients with compensated liver cirrhosis,
(Group III): 15 patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis, and (Group IV) (control group): 15 healthy
individuals. History taking, clinical examination and abdominal ultrasonography were made for all
subjects. Investigations were done in the form of liver function tests (ALT, AST, ALP, serum bilirubin,
and serum albumin), PT, PTT, CBC. Plasma levels of Antithrombin III & protein C were estimated by
automated Stago compact coagulation analyzer.
Results: In all patient groups, the mean value of Protein C showed significant decrease when compared
to control group, mean value of antithrombin III showed a significant decrease in compensated and
decompensated subjects when compared to chronic hepatitis and control groups. Antithrombin III and
protein C showed a significant negative correlation with (ALT, AST, PT, PTT, INR). However, this
correlation was positive with Albumin.
Conclusion: Antithrombin III and protein C are natural anticoagulants and can be considered as markers
of different stages of chronic liver disease. This is supported further by the comparison between the
levels of these parameters and clinical stages of liver disease. Protein C is more sensitive than ATIII as
a marker of hepatocellular damage.
