A monoclonal antibody against activated protein C allows rapid detection of activated protein C in plasma and reveals a calcium ion dependent epitope involved in factor Va inactivation

Activated protein C (APC) serves as an 'on demand' anticoagulant. Defects in the APC anticoagulant pathway are underlying risk factors for the development of venous and arterial thrombosis. APC has recently been shown to significantly reduce mortality in patients with severe sepsis, presumably by virtue of its ability to down-regulate coagulation as well as inflammation. Our objective was to develop an assay that, for the first time, permits …