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.