Blood Levels of Protein C Among Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Patients in Gaza, Palestine.

Abstract: Intensive care unit (ICU) is one of the largest, most expensive, and complex components of health care worldwide. However, assessment of  protein C (PC) levels in ICU patients may help in identifying high risk groups and relevant  therapy. The present work aims to estimate the PC levels among ICU patients and follow up their outcome. The present work is  a cross sectional comparative study which was performed as at Al-Shifa hospital ICU and included 85 patients as well as 85 apparently healthy controls. Plasma PC levels, Kidney and liver functions were assessed biochemically for all subjects. PC levels were below the lower limit of normal range in 65.9% of patients (n=56) at admission, irrespective of the primary diagnosis and sex. PC levels were lower in non survivors (n=17; 20%) than in survivors.  There were statistically significant differences in all hematological and biochemical characteristics of the patients as compared to the control group. however, for all liver and kidney function tests performed in the present study, no significant differences were reported for any of these tests between ICU patients with PC ? 70 % and those with PC > 70 %. There was a statistically significant correlation between PC levels and ICU outcomes. It was concluded that organ dysfunction was associated with a higher risk of ICU mortality. PC levels may be considered as early marker of organ dysfunction and hence the expected mortality at ICU.