THE ROLE OF ACTIVATED PROTEIN-C RESISTANCE IN THE PATHOGENESIS OF VENOUS THROMBOSIS

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is the third most common cardiovascular d isease in the United States. VTE is usually a consequence of either ac quired or inherited alterations in hemostatic regulatory proteins. The se regulatory proteins are predominantly those of the protein C/protei n S natural anticoagulant pathway. Acquired deficiencies in this pathw ay are frequently a consequence of other clinical entities leg, cancer , AIDS, and diabetes), while inherited deficiencies can be responsible for venous thrombosis in an otherwise healthy individual. The purpose of this article is to briefly describe the pathobiology of the antico agulant protein system and to review the clinical implications of acti vated protein C resistance.