DISSEMINATED intravascular coagulation is characterized by the widespread activation of coagulation, which results in the intravascular formation of fibrin and ultimately thrombotic occlusion of small and midsize vessels
Sepsis almost invariably leads to hemostatic abnormalities, ranging from insignificant laboratory changes to severe disseminated intravascular coagulation. There is compelling evidence from clinical and experimental studies that disseminated intravascular coagulation is involved in the pathogenesis of microvascular dysfunction and contributes to organ failure. Data from the PROWESS phase III c…
To evaluate the benefits and harms of antithrombin III in critically ill patients
To explore if patients with severe sepsis and with a predicted high risk of death (according to the Simplified Acute Physiology Score II) might have a treatment benefit from highdose antithrombin III.