Protein S deficiency is a disorder of blood clotting. People
with this condition are at an increased risk of developing abnormal blood
clots.
In cases of mild protein S deficiency, the affected
individual is at risk of developing a type of clot called a deep vein
thrombosis (DVT) that occurs in the deep veins of the arms or legs. The
essential harm that a DVT can produce is that if it travels through the
bloodstream and lodges in the lungs, whereby it can cause a life-threatening
clot known as a pulmonary embolism (PE). Other factors can further increase the
risk of abnormal blood clots in people with mild protein S deficiency, including
older age, surgery, immobility, or pregnancy. If protein S deficiency co-exists
with other inherited disorders of blood clotting, this can also increase the risk
of blood clotting. Many people with mild protein S deficiency never develop an
abnormal blood clot, however.
Several clinical conditions affect the blood levels of
protein S:
-Vitamin K deficiency,
-Liver disease
-Interaction with the blood thinner warfarin reduces protein
S levels.
-Acute blood clotting (thrombosis)
- Pregnancy
Based on the measurement of free and total protein S
antigen and functional protein S activity, protein S deficiency is classified
into the following three types. So here I need to ask you: the result you have
provided is the total or free level of protein S? Kindly check the lab report,
it should be mentioned somewhere.