Low plasma protein Z levels are associated with an increased risk for perioperative bleedings.

Background And Objectives: Protein Z (PZ) deficiency has been implicated both in bleeding diatheses and in thrombophilia. Considering its ambiguous nature and the conflicting clinical data so far, we set out to evaluate the impact of low PZ on perioperative bleeding in patients who underwent surgical (ENT) interventions involving a high risk of bleeding.

Patients And Methods: After exclusion of other coagulation disorders, 154 Patients were stratified into quartiles according to PZ plasma concentrations to evaluate the relation between PZ and bleeding complications.