INCREASED PLASMA-FREE GAMMA-CARBOXYGLUTAMIC ACID LEVELS DURING DEEP-VEIN THROMBOSIS AND INTRAVASCULAR DISSEMINATED COAGULATION

Gammacarboxyglutamic acid (gla) is a non essential aminoacid synthesiz ed in presence of vitamin K, predominantly found in coagulation and bo ne proteins. In 14 cases of deep vein thrombosis and in 11 cases of di sseminated intravascular coagulation, compared to 19 normal subjects a nd 9 patients hospitalized for leg pain, free plasma gla levels were f ound significantly elevated (respectively 372 +/- 244 and 559 +/- 361 versus 146 +/- 34 and 120 +/- 40 pmol/mL). In six paired plasma and se rum, gla levels were similar. These results suggest an involvement of blood coagulation in gla generation with need of a catabolism of the a ctivated factors. A significant decrease was noticed during vitamin K antagonist therapy and liver disease, both instances in which the synt hesis of gla containing coagulation factors is affects. During hepatoc ellular carcinoma with elevated desgamma carboxyprothrombin, gla was f ound normal, deniing an global impairement of the vitamin K metabolism .