Evaluation of severity and prognosis in early stages of septicemia by means of chromogenic peptide substrate assays.

Abstract

Components of the plasma protease systems were determined by means of chromogenic peptide substrate assays during the early stage of septicemia in 21 patients of whom 11 died. The proenzyme functional inhibition index, calculated from the measured values for plasma prekallikrein, functional kallikrein inhibition, plasminogen and functional antiplasmin and antithrombin III activities, were markedly reduced in both groups, but significantly lower in the fatal cases than in the survivors from the first day of septicemia and throughout the observation period. Fatal septicemia thus appear to be associated with a more extensive proteolytic activity in plasma than nonfatal septicemia and can be readily disclosed by calculation of the proenzyme functional inhibition index.