Minerva anestesiologica
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Minerva anestesiologica · Sep 2003
Case ReportsReplacement treatment with protein C in an 18-year-old man with meningococcal sepsis and purpura fulminans.
In separate studies on Neisseria meningitidis sepsis, Powars and Fiynvandraat suggested that low protein C levels may be responsible for disseminated intravascular coagulopathy and purpura fulminans. Following on this observation, we used protein C concentrate in an 18-year-old male patient with septic shock and purpura fulminans. The patient's coagulation parameters were seriously altered: AT 45%; protein C 21%; PT 50%; platelets 55000; D-dimer 2400. ⋯ An increase in protein C was observed (78%) after the 1st administration, while the D-dimer levels fell by 50%. By day 7, the patient's cardiocirculatory conditions had stabilized and the coagulation parameters had normalized; the patient was discharged from the intensive care unit. Protein C replacement therapy normalized the coagulation parameters and blocked the evolution of the skin injuries.