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One hundred and eighty five whole blood samples were analysed for cyclosporine levels by fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). 123 came from 4 heart transplant recipients (mean age +/- SD: 47.50 +/- 20.56 years) and 62 from 4 liver transplant recipients (44.50 +/- 16.52 years). FPIA was done on plasma and whole blood in heart transplant recipients, on plasma in the liver recipients. HPLC was always done on whole blood. The results show a good correlation between FPIA on plasma (y) and HPLC (x) in liver recipients (n = 62, r = 0.935, y = 1.23x + 70 ng/ml), slightly worse between FPIA on plasma (y) and HPLC (x) in heart recipients (n = 64, r = 0.610, y = 0.78x + 189 ng/ml) and mediocre for FPIA on whole blood (y) and HPLC (x) in heart recipients (n = 123, r = 0.566, y = 1.35x + 594 ng/ml).

The protein C system--a complex physiological coagulation inhibition system--is a major regulator which controls thrombin production. Nowadays, its exploration is indispensable for the detection of constitutional or acquired protein C deficiency, side by side with a search for antithrombin III deficiency. This approach, based on the frequent association of recurrent thrombosis, mainly venous, in young subjects with congenital deficiencies, makes it possible to initiate, beside a family survey, an individual and efficient prophylaxis of recurrent thrombosis.