Blood coagulation & fibrinolysis : an international journal in haemostasis and thrombosis
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Blood Coagul. Fibrinolysis · Apr 1998
ReviewTherapeutic applications of antithrombin concentrates in systemic inflammatory disorders.
During severe sepsis, the sustained consumption and/or inhibition of antithrombin leads to a prolonged procoagulant state, which indicates that the administration of antithrombin may be useful in this condition. Animal studies have shown that high doses of antithrombin concentrates can prevent disseminated intravascular coagulation and death. ⋯ A meta-analysis of these three studies showed a nonsignificant 22% reduction in 30-day, all-cause mortality. A multicenter phase III trial is needed to demonstrate that antithrombin administration can reduce mortality in septic patients.
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Blood Coagul. Fibrinolysis · Apr 1998
Measurement of plasma fibrinogen concentration by the prothrombin-time-derived method: applicability and limitations.
A prothrombin-time-derived method was used to measure plasma fibrinogen concentration (PFC) in 286 samples from 242 normal and 44 orally anticoagulated subjects. Absorbance changes at 405 nm (deltaOD) during the clotting process were obtained by an automatic coagulometer and their relationship with plasma fibrinogen concentration (range 90-1090 mg/dl), measured by the Clauss method, was investigated. A weighted linear regression between the deltaOD and the Clauss-derived PFC values provided the best fit of the experimental data. ⋯ On the other hand, the 'clot recovery' method was minimally affected by the above inhibitors. These results indicate that the prothrombin-time-derived method is accurate and precise for most routine purposes. Its precision seems inadequate, however, under those conditions where the prothrombin time is prolonged (such as anticoagulant therapy) and in the presence of high fibrinogen levels.
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Blood Coagul. Fibrinolysis · Apr 1998
Case ReportsHyperfibrinogenolysis in disseminated adenocarcinoma.
We present the case of a 42-year-old woman with a recently acquired bleeding tendency. Coagulation studies and response to antifibrinolytic therapy suggested primary hyperfibrinogenolysis: markedly low levels of fibrinogen and alpha2-antiplasmin, normal levels of antithrombin III, protein C and protein S combined with an only borderline low number of platelets without evidence of microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia. ⋯ Differential diagnosis of these coagulation disorders, with similar etiology, clinical and laboratory findings is reviewed. Therapeutic implications are discussed.