Thrombosis research
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Thrombosis research · Mar 2003
Case ReportsClinical and laboratory effects of recombinant human activated protein C in the treatment of a patient with sepsis-induced multiple organ failure.
To evaluate clinical and laboratory effects of the administration of recombinant human activated protein C (rhAPC) in the treatment of a 25-year-old patient with septic shock and multiple organ failure secondary to perinephritic abscesses. ⋯ RhAPC has been observed to have anticoagulant, anti-inflammatory and profibrinolytic properties in vitro and in vivo. This report describes the effects of rhAPC administration on standard laboratory parameters indicating that no single laboratory parameter exists that is capable of monitoring the effects of rhAPC on the coagulation cascade and the clinical course of sepsis. This description of a patient suffering from sepsis-induced multiple organ failure may illustrate a possible beneficial effect of rhAPC on the course of coagulopathy and systemic inflammatory response and provides evidence for rhAPC complementing standard intensive care therapy in severe sepsis.