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Plasma exchange as a source of protein C for acute onset protein C pathway failure
Author(s) -
Hodgson Andy,
Ryan Tom,
Moriarty Jan,
Mellotte George,
Murphy Ciaran,
Smith Owen P.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
british journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.907
H-Index - 186
eISSN - 1365-2141
pISSN - 0007-1048
DOI - 10.1046/j.0007-1048.2002.03353.x
Subject(s) - therapeutic plasma exchange , chemistry , medicine
Summary. Severe bacterial sepsis, particularly secondary to meningococcaemia, is a well‐recognized cause of purpura fulminans resulting from severe acquired protein C (PC) deficiency. Recently, PC and activated protein C (APC) concentrate replacement therapy has been shown to improve outcome in patients with meningococcaemia‐ associated purpura fulminans and severe sepsis respectively. Despite these impressive findings, PC and APC concentrates are not currently widely available. We describe a 31‐year‐old patient with pneumococcal septic shock, purpura fulminans (PF) and severe acquired PC deficiency, whom we successfully treated with conventional therapy and high‐volume plasma exchange as a source of PC.