THE IMPLICATION OF COAGULATION INHIBITORS PROTEIN C AND ANTITHROMBIN III IN INFANTS

El-Tahan HM*; Salama OS**; El-Desoky T*;

Pediatric Intensive Care Unit* and Haematology Depts.**,

Mansoura, Egypt

 

Sepsis and its sequelae constitute a major cause of morbidity and mortality in intensive care units (ICU) particularly in pediatrics (Alcazara et al., 1995). Despite the advancement in care for sepsis patients, the mortality rate still ranges from 30 to 50%. Coagulopathies and altered fibrinolysis are frequently observed in sepsis with a widespread fibrin deposition in the microvasculature that is closely linked to the development of multiorgan dysfunction syndrome (Fourrier et al., 1992). In this study, the coagulation system, particularly the major inhibitors namely protein C, S and antithrombin III are evaluated in thirty children with sepsis syndrome, early septic shock, and refractory septic shock, besides ten healthy children as a reference group. A signficant reduction in APC and AT III levels had been clarified in all sepsis groups. The study points to the conclusion that there has been a significant correlation between the different degrees of sepsis and mortality outcome. It may be justified to try the use of coagulation inhibitors AT III and APC as therapeutic agents in children with sepsis.

 
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