Activated protein C resistance determined with a thrombin generation‐based test is associated with thrombotic events in patients with lupus anticoagulants

• Published in: Journal of thrombosis and haemostasis 2007-11, Vol.5 (11), p.2204-2211
• Main Authors: LIESTØL, S., SANDSET, P. M., MOWINCKEL, M.‐C., WISLØFF, F.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Activated Protein C Resistance - complications; Adult; antiphospholipid syndrome; Antiphospholipid Syndrome - complications; APC resistance; Blood Coagulation Tests; Case-Control Studies; Female; Humans; lupus anticoagulants; Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor - blood; Male; Middle Aged; Protein C - pharmacology; Recombinant Proteins; Thrombin - pharmacology; thrombin generation; Thrombophilia - complications; Thrombosis - etiology; Warfarin - pharmacology; Warfarin - therapeutic use
• ISSN: 1538-7933; 1538-7836; 1538-7836
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1538-7836.2007.02734.x

Background: Several studies suggest that antiphospholipid antibodies interfere with the activity of activated protein C (APC). This acquired form of APC resistance has been proposed as a possible pathogenic mechanism underlying hypercoagulability associated with the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS).Objectives: We wanted to investigate the inhibitory effect of recombinant APC (rAPC) on ex vivo thrombin generation in plasma and the modification of this effect by the presence of lupus anticoagulants (LA).Patients/Methods: We analyzed plasmas from 81 patients with LA (52 patients fulfilling the criteria for the APS) and 91 controls. Percent inhibition of the endogenous thrombin potential (ETP) as a parameter of APC sensitivity was determined in plasmas using a thrombin generation‐based APC resistance test probed with rAPC. All results were normalized using pooled normal plasma (PNP) as a reference.Results: Normalized percent inhibition of ETP by APC was lower in patients with LA [61.4%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 45.8–74.5%] compared to controls (107.8%, 95% CI: 107.1–109.3%). In patients with LA and APS, median inhibition was lower than in patients with LA without APS (44.6%, 95% CI: 30.1–55.7% vs. 78.8%, 95% CI: 73.9–95.8%). This difference also persisted when patients on warfarin therapy were excluded from the APS subgroup.Conclusions: APC resistance can be demonstrated with a thrombin generation‐based test in a majority of patients with the LA laboratory phenotype. A history of thrombotic events in patients with LA is associated with a stronger resistance to the anticoagulant effect of APC.