Farmacia hospitalaria : órgano oficial de expresión científica de la Sociedad Española de Farmacia Hospitalaria
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Severe sepsis is a high prevalent disease at Intensive Care Units with no specific treatment till recently. Several clinical trials show low serum levels of activated protein C in this kind of patients. Recently, drotrecogin alfa (activated), a recombinant human activated protein C, has been approved in Spain for severe sepsis treatment in addition to the best patient care. ⋯ It demonstrates not only its efficacy and safety, but also a 19.4% reduction in the relative risk of death. Nevertheless, it is difficult to decide which patients would be candidate for this new therapy due to its lack of experience, high cost and the risk-benefit relationship. This review attempts to provide an overview about this new hospital drug.