Diagnostic Tests

CLINICAL ASSOCIATIONS

Mitogen’s Anti-Phosphatidylserine / Prothrombin Complex assay is an autoimmune diagnostic test that is useful in the diagnosis of anti-phospholipid syndrome. Phosphatidylserine (PS) is most often an inner membrane phospholipid that serves a major function in many areas of the body. Often its active functions occur when PS flips to the extracellular (outer) surface of the cell. The functions of PS include cell signalling and brain activity, general apoptosis (programmed cellular death), and blood coagulation. In the case of coagulation, when an injury occurs, PS is exposed to the extracellular surface (via collagen and thrombin activation) and then acts as the surface or site where coagulation occurs.

Prothrombin (PT) binds coagulation proteases such as “tissue factor” (TF) and “factor VII” which carries on the coagulation cascade. PT is a soluble protein that plays a role near the end of the coagulation cascade when it is converted into thrombin (insoluble form). Thrombin is the primary component of a blood clot.

Reference: Lentz BR (September 2003). “Exposure of platelet membrane phosphatidylserine regulates blood coagulation”. Progress in Lipid Research. 42 (5): 423–38. doi:10.1016/s0163-7827(03)00025-0. PMID 12814644.