Possible dangers of protein C deficiency in relation to diving?

[Homeless]

Would diving cause any increased risk of clotting? Should I be putting any limits on my dive profiles? I'm not on any blood thinners and am in good health (Other than the aforementioned condition).

 

[Dr. Doug Ebersole]

Let me preface this with saying I'm a cardiologist, not a hematologist.

You mention that you have Protein C deficiency but you are not on Coumadin so i suppose that means you discovered this genetic problem without having a thrombotic ("blood clot") event?

Protein C deficiency in and of itself is not a problem with diving. Should you need to be on coumadin there are theoretical issues of increased bleeding risks from barotrauma, injuries, and (possibly) should you suffer a neurologic DCS event. However, coumadin also is not a contraindication to diving.

 

[Homeless]

I was diagnosed with protein C deficiency after a very minor pulmonary embolism. Because I was put on blood thinners after that incident, I decided not go dive, but after about a year, by doctor decided it would be safe to go without blood thinners.

Sorry, I should have given a bit more information in my first post.

 

[Dr. Doug Ebersole]

That makes more sense as to how the diagnosis was made. I guess you and your physician decided against life-long coumadin therapy? You probably know this but either Protein C or Protein S deficiency, in general, raises your risk of blood clots (such as a pulmonary embolism or deep venous thrombosis) about 10-fold compared to the general population.

Again, your question was about diving. There is no increased risk of clotting from diving.

Best of luck.