This is a great question. Let me explain the alphabet soup for you. First off Protein C and Activated Protein C are different. Protein C must be activated before it can do its job. Once it is, it becomes activated protein C.
Factor V is another clotting chemical. It causes clotting. Typically, Activated Protein C turns off Factor V. This means it would stop the body from clotting. The Factor V has a receptor that is the same shape as the Activated Protein C. It is like 2 puzzle pieces fitting together. Once the two pieces are together, clotting cycle stops. When you have the Factor V Leiden mutation, the Factor V Leiden puzzle pieces are shaped incorrectly. The Activated Protein C can't fit with the Factor V.
Factor V is another clotting chemical. It causes clotting. Typically, Activated Protein C turns off Factor V. This means it would stop the body from clotting. The Factor V has a receptor that is the same shape as the Activated Protein C. It is like 2 puzzle pieces fitting together. Once the two pieces are together, clotting cycle stops. When you have the Factor V Leiden mutation, the Factor V Leiden puzzle pieces are shaped incorrectly. The Activated Protein C can't fit with the Factor V.
Most people only have one copy of the mutation (from one parent rather than both parents) this means that about half of the Factor V is produced with the right puzzle piece and the other half is wrong. The part that is wrong is RESISTANT to the Activated Protein C. 95% of people with APC resistance have it due to Factor V Leiden. 5% of people with APC resistance have it due to other causes. All people with Factor V Leiden have APC resistance but not all people with APC resistance have Factor V Leiden.
You can also be short of Protein C, but this is not related to APC resistance. Protein C deficiency is when Protein C is affected before it is activated. You don't have enough Protein C to turn off all of the Factor V in your blood.
APC resistance, Factor V Leiden, and Protein C deficiencies all are types of thrombophilia (clotting conditions) and raise the risk of blood clots. A patient can have one or more than one of these conditions, for this reason doctors will measure levels of protein C and Activated C Protein, do a APC resistance blood assay, and a genetic test for Factor V Leiden. The more conditions that are found, the higher the risk is of having a blood clot.
You can also be short of Protein C, but this is not related to APC resistance. Protein C deficiency is when Protein C is affected before it is activated. You don't have enough Protein C to turn off all of the Factor V in your blood.
APC resistance, Factor V Leiden, and Protein C deficiencies all are types of thrombophilia (clotting conditions) and raise the risk of blood clots. A patient can have one or more than one of these conditions, for this reason doctors will measure levels of protein C and Activated C Protein, do a APC resistance blood assay, and a genetic test for Factor V Leiden. The more conditions that are found, the higher the risk is of having a blood clot.
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