Thursday, May 23, 2013

Congenital protein C or S deficiency

Table of Contents

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.



Review Date: 03/28/2010
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; 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.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)