Summary
We measured total and free protein S (PS), protein C (PC) and factor X (FX) in 393
healthy blood donors to assess differences in relation to sex, hormonal state and
age. All measured proteins were lower in women as compared to men, as were levels
in premenopausal women as compared to postmenopausal women. Multiple regression analysis
showed that both age and subgroup (men, pre- and postmenopausal women) were of significance
for the levels of total and free PS and PC, the subgroup effect being caused by the
differences between the premenopausal women and the other groups. This indicates a
role of sex-hormones, most likely estrogens, in the regulation of levels of pro- and
anticoagulant factors under physiologic conditions. These differences should be taken
into account in daily clinical practice and may necessitate different normal ranges
for men, pre- and postmenopausal women.