Seminars in thrombosis and hemostasis
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Semin. Thromb. Hemost. · Dec 2001
ReviewAnticoagulant factor concentrates in disseminated intravascular coagulation: rationale for use and clinical experience.
Natural inhibitors of coagulation, in other words, antithrombin (AT), the protein C system, and tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI), play an important role in controlling the activation of coagulation during disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Furthermore, they may not only influence coagulation but also attenuate inflammatory responses during sepsis. Low circulating levels of AT and protein C have been associated with poor outcome. ⋯ Experience with AT and APC in patients is promising. Data from large phase III trials of AT and APC as treatment of patients with severe sepsis will soon be available. Recombinant TFPI is currently in phase II clinical trials for severe sepsis.
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Semin. Thromb. Hemost. · Dec 2001
ReviewAdvances in the understanding of the pathogenetic pathways of disseminated intravascular coagulation result in more insight in the clinical picture and better management strategies.
Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a syndrome characterized by systemic intravascular activation of coagulation leading to widespread deposition of fibrin in the circulation. There is ample experimental and pathological evidence that the fibrin deposition contributes to multiple organ failure. The massive and ongoing activation of coagulation may result in depletion of platelets and coagulation factors, which may cause bleeding (consumption coagulopathy). ⋯ The cornerstone of the management of DIC is the specific and vigorous treatment of the underlying disorder. Strategies aimed at the inhibition of coagulation activation may theoretically be justified and have been found to be beneficial in experimental and initial clinical studies. These strategies comprise inhibition of tissue factor-mediated activation of coagulation and restoration of physiological anticoagulant pathways by means of the administration of (activated) protein C concentrate or antithrombin concentrate.
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Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is characterized by the in vivo activation of the coagulation system, which results in the intravascular deposition of fibrin and consumption bleeding. DIC is a serious hemostatic complication of trauma. It can be clearly distinguished from physiological hemostatic response to trauma by using sensitive coagulofibrinolytic molecular markers. ⋯ Elevated cytokines induce tissue factor-mediated activation of coagulation, suppression of the anticoagulant pathway, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1)-mediated inhibition of fibrinolysis followed by disseminated fibrin deposition in the microvasculature. In addition to the occlusive microvascular thrombosis and hypoxia, sustained systemic inflammatory response characterized by neutrophil activation and endothelial damage plays a pivotal role in the development of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) in posttrauma DIC patients. DIC associated with sustained systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) after trauma leads to the development of MODS, which is the main determinant of patients' outcome after trauma.