Protein C Replacement in Severe Meningococcemia: Rationale and Clinical Experience

Alberio, Lorenzo; Lämmle, Bernhard; Esmon, Charles T. (2001). Protein C Replacement in Severe Meningococcemia: Rationale and Clinical Experience. Clinical infectious diseases, 32(9), pp. 1338-1346. The University of Chicago Press 10.1086/319995

[img]
Preview
Text
32-9-1338.pdf - Published Version
Available under License Publisher holds Copyright.

Download (275kB) | Preview

Severe meningococcemia, which is associated with hemodynamic instability, purpura fulminans and disseminated intravascular coagulation, still has a high mortality rate, and patients who survive are often left invalids because of amputations and organ failure. Clinical studies have shown that levels of protein C are markedly decreased in patients with severe meningococcemia and that the extent of the decrease correlates with a negative clinical outcome. There is a growing body of data demonstrating that activated protein C, in addition to being an anticoagulant, is also a physiologically relevant modulator of the inflammatory response. The dual function of protein C may be relevant to the treatment of individuals with severe meningococcal sepsis. In the present review we give a basic overview of the protein C pathway and its anticoagulant activity, and we summarize experimental data showing that activated protein C replacement therapy clearly reduces the mortality rate for fulminant meningococcemia.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Review Article)

Division/Institute:

04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Haematology, Oncology, Infectious Diseases, Laboratory Medicine and Hospital Pharmacy (DOLS) > Clinic of Haematology and Central Haematological Laboratory

UniBE Contributor:

Alberio, Lorenzo, Lämmle, Bernhard

Subjects:

600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health

ISSN:

1058-4838

Publisher:

The University of Chicago Press

Language:

English

Submitter:

Marceline Brodmann

Date Deposited:

29 Oct 2020 14:02

Last Modified:

05 Dec 2022 15:13

Publisher DOI:

10.1086/319995

BORIS DOI:

10.7892/boris.115270

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/115270

Actions (login required)

Edit item Edit item
Provide Feedback