Intravascular Coagulation Research Articles

Clinical and diagnostic substantiation for computed tomography of internal organs in acute lung injury in intensive care unit

Objective. To conduct a clinical and diagnostic substantiation of computed tomography (CT) of internal organs in acute lung injury (ALI) in intensive care.Methods. 96 patients of the intensive care unit of the Clinical hospital No 1(Smolensk) were examined. CT scans of the lungs, liver, and brain were performed using a tomograph GE Revolution EVO64. Clinical structure of the patients: 49 – with pneumonia, 15 – septic condition, 12 – Inhalation of toxic substances, 8 – aspiration of toxic liquids, 3 – aspiration of disosmolar liquids, 3 – disseminated intravascular coagulation, 3 – pulmonary contusion, 3 – shock condition. Statistical processing of the results was carried out in the Statistica 6.0 program.Results. Of the 15 patients without changes of the lungs on CT scan, in 12 patients’ attenuation value of liver parenchyma was 14–28HU, brain attenuation value was 24–30HU. In patients with established changes in lung tissue (n=81), the density of liver tissue less than 54HU, brain density less than 32HU in 80.2 % of cases allowed us to predict an unfavorable course of ALI. 10 deaths were recorded, 6 patients were in critical condition for a long period of time. Treatment of hemostasis disorders, normalization of water-electrolyte homeostasis, elimination of hypoxemia, prescription of hepatoprotective, antibacterial, detoxification therapy helped to avoid an unfavorable outcome.Conclusions. 1. It is recommended to consider of criteria for an unfavorable course in patients with acute lung injury the attenuation value of liver parenchyma less than 54HU and brain tissue attenuation value less than 32HU on CT (r=0.969 and r=0.988). 2. CT scan of the liver and brain allows the resuscitator to correct therapy and decide whether it is necessary to involve other specialists. 3. Diagnostic and prognostic significance of a complex CT scan in patients with acute lung injury, at the patient’s admitting AUROC 0.998; CI 0.901–0.999; at follow-up AUROC 0.835; CI 0.822–0.847.

Cooling Under a Blanketrol System Versus Cooling With an Arctic Sun Thermoregulation System (CATS) for Neonates Undergoing Therapeutic Hypothermia.

Background Despite evidence suggesting improved outcomes in neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) treated with therapeutic hypothermia (TH), data on the impact of temperature variability during cooling and its association with clinical outcomes remain limited. Objective To compare the efficacy and ease of use of two different cooling systems, the Arctic Sun (Medivance, Inc., Louisville, CO) vs. the Blanketrol III (Gentherm Medical, Cincinnati, OH) on achieving TH, temperature variability, and clinical outcomes in neonates with HIE undergoing TH. Methods This study was conducted at the Baylor Scott and White Medical Center's Level IV NICU. The study employed a retrospective cohort design, comparing infants treated with the Arctic Sun device (from December 2020 to August 2021) to a historical cohort treated with the Blanketrol system (from January 2017 to November 2020). Both groups were evaluated for clinical characteristics, patients' outcomes, and ease of use of the cooling devices. Ease of use was assessed through a self-developed survey administered to NICU nurses. Core body temperatures throughout the cooling course were documented at four-hour intervals, including induction, maintenance, and rewarming phases. Results Twenty-two infants were cooled using the Arctic Sun system, and 44 infants were cooled with the Blanketrol device. Median birth weight and gestational age were comparable. There were no significant differences in one-minute and five-minute appearance, pulse, grimace, activity, and respiration (APGAR) scores. The Arctic Sun group had a significantly higher rate of maternal morbidities, including diabetes and placental abruption. Although the median temperature achieved with both devices was 33.5°C, temperature variability was significantly greater with the Blanketrol device (p = 0.03). Thrombocytopenia rates were statistically different between the groups (9% in Arctic Sun vs. 38% in Blanketrol, p = 0.001). Although the Blanketrol group had higher rates of disseminated intravascular coagulation (48% vs. 37%), hypercalcemia (23% vs. 5%), and subcutaneous fat necrosis (7% vs. 5%), these differences were not statistically significant. A nurses' survey on ease of use revealed a strong preference for the Arctic Sun cooling system. Over 85% of nurses found it easier to learn and set up and required less manual intervention than the Blanketrol device. Conclusions Gel adhesive pad-based TH is a potentially superior modality to traditional water-circulating cooling devices. These pads offer advantages in user-friendliness, improved temperature control precision, and potentially reduced adverse event profiles.

Modulation of Unregulated Inflammation‐Associated Coagulopathy in Sepsis Using Multifunctional Nanosheets

AbstractExcessive inflammation‐associated unregulated coagulation leads to disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and mortality in patients with sepsis worldwide, and current clinical treatment is unsatisfactory. Recent studies have shown that circulating cell‐free DNA (cfDNA) and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), act as potent pro‐inflammation and pro‐coagulation agents, revealing a mechanistic link between innate immunity and coagulation. After establishing a definite correlation between cfDNA and dysfunctional inflammation and coagulation disorders in samples from patients with sepsis, a novel 2D, sheet‐like, cationic cfDNA scavenger using polyamidoamine (P‐G1) and antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) covered with black phosphorus (BP) nanosheets, called BP‐G1AMP, are fabricated. It is found that BP‐G1AMP significantly suppressed bacterial growth and ameliorated the systemic inflammatory response, associated coagulation disorder, and DIC, resulting in improved survival in a cecal ligation puncture (CLP) mouse sepsis model. This study proposes a novel strategy for fabricating multifunctional nanosheets that can ameliorate inflammation‐associated coagulation during sepsis treatment. These findings demonstrate the importance of 2D nanostructures in the construction of multivalent anti‐bacterial and anti‐coagulation nanoplatforms.

Clinical outcomes of antithrombin III supplementation in an overt disseminated intravascular coagulation: a longitudinal single-institutional experience and retrospective analysis.

Antithrombin is a small plasma glycoprotein synthesized in the liver that belongs to the serpin family of serine protease inhibitors and inactivates several enzymes in the coagulation pathway. It plays a leading major factor on coagulation pathway, therefore administration of antithrombin is essential to treat serious clinical conditions such as disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Despite the theoretical benefits of antithrombin supplementation, the optimal antithrombin activity for heparin efficacy and the benefits of antithrombin supplementation in various disease entities are not yet fully understood. The strict administration guidelines on antithrombin III in cases of DIC by the National Health Insurance Service and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety complied as follows: antithrombin levels below 20 mg/dL in adults; antithrombin activity below 70% of normal in adults; total administration period of antithrombin must be carefully limited to within maximum 3 days, and the total administration dose must be below 7,000 international unit (IU), (loading dose, 1,000 IU in 1 hour: maintenance dose, 500 IU every 6 hours for 3 days). We identified 76 eligible for analysis according to the above-mentioned criteria in our institution (male/female, 59/17). Forty-four were identified to the non-survivor group and 32 patients were recognized as the survivor group. The baseline parameters in the non-survivor and survivor groups were comparable with no significant differences in age (66.5±18.1 vs. 66.0±16.2 years, P=0.90), sex (32/12 vs. 27/5, P=0.35), hospital length of stay (31.1±34.5 vs. 31.2±26.1 days, P=0.99), sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) (7.3±2.5 vs. 6.6±2.0, P=0.22), simplified acute physiology score II (SAPS II) (46.0±8.8 vs. 43.5±9.2, P=0.23), cause for DIC (P=0.95), and underlying disease (P=0.38). The levels of antithrombin III on the day just before the administration significantly lower in the non-survivor groups than in the survivor groups (50.1%±13.6% vs. 57.6%±12.5%, P=0.01). The hemoglobin level in the 2nd day and 7th day after antithrombin III administration was significantly different between the non-survivor and survivor groups (9.9±1.9 vs. 11.0±2.0 g/dL, P=0.01, and 9.4±1.8 vs. 10.5±1.6 g/dL, P=0.006). The antithrombin III levels on the day of administration [area under the curve (AUC) =0.672] demonstrated significantly better prediction of mortality than the A antithrombin III levels on 1st day (AUC =0.552), the 2nd day (AUC =0.624), and 7th day (AUC =0.593). Our study suggests that the antithrombin administration may be effective tools for DIC treatment, and may be more positively considered, especially in the cases of DIC, which is a frequent complication of septic shock, sepsis, and other critical disease entities and which is associated with a high level of mortality. Furthermore, our study also suggests that the total doses and periods of antithrombin administration, which recommended by national guidelines, may be insufficient, therefore prolongation of period and increase of total dose of antithrombin supplement might be necessary.

Low-Lying Placenta and Pregnancy Outcomes in a Large National Cohort [ID 2683532

INTRODUCTION: We sought to understand the association of low-lying placenta and adverse pregnancy outcomes among those undergoing cesarean delivery. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of persons undergoing cesarean delivery using the National Inpatient Sample from 2017 to 2019 through HCUP/AHRQ. Patients with placenta previa were excluded. Rates of adverse maternal outcomes were compared between patients undergoing cesaeran delivery with ICD-10 codes of low-lying placenta and those without. The outcomes included were preterm delivery, hemorrhage, hysterectomy, placenta accreta spectrum (PAS), sepsis, shock, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), and transfusion. Groups were compared using ANOVA, chi-squared analysis, logistic and linear regressions to control for confounders. RESULTS: Over 700,000 participants underwent cesarean delivery. 2,664 (0.4%) had low-lying placenta. Affected patients were older, more likely to be anemic, privately insured, undergoing primary cesarean, and deliver at a large/urban teaching hospital. Those with low-lying placenta were more likely to deliver preterm (31.9% versus 14.3%), hemorrhage (27.8% versus 3.8%), undergo hysterectomy (2.0% versus 0.2%), have PAS (2.4% versus 0.2%), receive transfusion (5.4% versus 2.0%) (all P<.001), and experience sepsis, shock, and DIC (all P<.05). Many of these findings persisted after controlling for confounders—preterm delivery (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 3.07; 95% CI, 2.81–3.35), hemorrhage (aOR 8.87; 95% CI, 8.10–9.73), hysterectomy (aOR 9.42; 95% CI, 7.11–12.47), PAS (aOR 13.41; 95% CI, 10.34–17.39), transfusion (aOR 2.56; 95% CI, 2.14–3.06), and shock (aOR 2.55; 95% CI, 1.44–4.52). CONCLUSION: Low-lying placenta at time of cesarean is associated with adverse outcomes and should be considered in counseling and delivery planning.

Clinical data analysis of 117 patients with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm

Objective: To examine the perioperative clinical features and prognosis of patients with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (rAAA) who received surgical repair. Methods: The clinical data of rAAA patients who underwent surgical repair and were admitted to the Surgical Intensive Care Unit of Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University from August 2005 to November 2020 were retrospectively analyzed, including the general clinical features, surgical mode, intraoperative conditions, postoperative complications, and fatality rate. Results: There were 117 patients with rAAA, with a median age of 68 (62,77) years, including 93 men (79.5%) and 24 women (20.5%). The main clinical manifestation was abdominal pain (n=115, 98.3%). Among them, 65 (55.6%) patients underwent endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR), while 52 (44.4%) underwent open surgical repair (OSR). The common postoperative complications include acute gastrointestinal dysfunction (n=116, 99.1%), shock (n=89, 76.1%), acute respiratory distress syndrome (n=85, 72.6%), pancreatic injury (n=56, 47.9%), coagulation dysfunction (n=55, 47.0%), disseminated intravascular coagulation (n=46, 39.3%), acute kidney injury (n=39, 33.3%), infection/sepsis (n=28, 23.9%), gastrointestinal bleeding (n=17, 14.5%), and abdominal compartment syndrome (n=12, 10.3%). The overall postoperative in-hospital fatality rate was 10.3% (12/117). Preoperative use of vasopressors and inotropes, retroperitoneal hematoma, and postoperative abdominal compartment syndrome, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, acute kidney injury, and diffuse intravascular coagulation significantly increased the fatality rate [5/11, 6/24, 5/16, 6/12, 6/17, 23.1%(9/39), 19.6%(9/46), respectively]. Conclusion: The postoperative mortality of rAAA patients is still high in the era of EVAR, especially in patients with preoperative existence of shock and retroperitoneal hematoma, and with postoperative abdominal compartment syndrome, coagulation dysfunction, and acute kidney injury. It is necessary to strengthen perioperative monitoring and management of these patients to reduce the fatality rate.

Salvaging donated kidneys from prolonged warm ischemia during ex vivo hypothermic oxygenated perfusion

Prolonged warm ischemic is the main cause discarding donated organs after cardiac death. Here, we identified that prolonged warm ischemic time induced disseminated intravascular coagulation and severe capillary vasospasm after cardiac death of rat kidneys. Additionally, we found a significant accumulation of fibrinogen in a hypoxic cell culture of human umbilical vein epithelial cells and in isolated kidneys exposed to prolonged warm ischemic following flushing out of blood. However, pre-flushing the kidney with snake venom plasmin in a 90-minute warm ischemic model maximized removal of micro thrombi and facilitated the delivery of oxygen and therapeutic agents. Application of carbon monoxide releasing CORM-401 during ex vivo hypothermic oxygenated perfusion achieved multipath protective effects in prolonged warm ischemic kidneys. This led to significant improvements in perfusion parameters, restoration of the microcirculation, amelioration of mitochondrial injury, oxidative stress, and apoptosis. This benefit resulted in significantly prolonged warm ischemic kidney recipient survival rates of 70%, compared with none in those receiving ex vivo hypothermic oxygenated perfusion alone. Significantly, ex vivo hypothermic oxygenated perfusion combined with cytoprotective carbon monoxide releasing CORM-401 treatment meaningfully protected the donated kidney after cardiac death from ischemia-reperfusion injury by reducing inflammation, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and pathological damage. Thus, our study suggests a new combination treatment strategy to potentially expand the donor pool by increasing use of organs after cardiac death and salvaging prolonged warm ischemic kidneys.

How We Interpret Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome?

Platelets play an important role in hemostasis, and a low platelet count usually increases the risk of bleeding. Conditions in which thrombosis occurs despite low platelet counts are referred to as thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome, including heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia, paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, antiphospholipid syndrome, thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA), and disseminated intravascular coagulation. TMA includes thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli-associated hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), and atypical HUS. Patients with these pathologies present with thrombosis and consumptive thrombocytopenia associated with the activation of platelets and the coagulation system. Treatment varies from disease to disease, and many diseases have direct impacts on mortality and organ prognosis if therapeutic interventions are not promptly implemented. Underlying diseases and the results of physical examinations and general laboratory tests as part of a thorough workup for patients should promptly lead to therapeutic intervention before definitive diagnosis. For some diseases, the diagnosis and initial treatment must proceed in parallel. Utilization of not only laboratory tests but also various scoring systems is important for validating therapeutic interventions based on clinical information.

Correlation of Peripartum Acute Kidney Injury Severity With Obstetric Comorbidity Index Scores and Maternal Morbidity [ID 2683636

INTRODUCTION: Risk stratification systems are increasingly used to predict obstetric complications. The Obstetric Comorbidity Index (OB-CMI) is one validated prediction tool, applying weighted scores to maternal and obstetric conditions. Although acute kidney injury (AKI) is a severe maternal morbidity, there is limited information on predicting AKI severity. We aimed to investigate the utility of OB-CMI scores and its specific comorbidities in predicting obstetric AKI severity, and the relationship of AKI severity and other maternal morbidity outcomes. METHODS: This was an IRB-exempt, retrospective cohort study of AKI cases (ICD-10 code N17.0-17.9) between January 2018 and December 2022 at a single academic institution with ∼6,000 births annually. Information was extracted via chart review. Cases were stratified by those meeting American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)/Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) criteria for severe renal injury. Those with unknown baseline Cr were assigned 0.7 (the 95th percentile Cr value at 39–40 weeks). Groups were compared based on admission OB-CMI scores and comorbidities, and maternal morbidity events using independent t-tests, χ2, and Fisher's exact as appropriate. RESULTS: Two hundred thirty cases were reviewed: 8.3% (19 cases) met ACOG/SMFM AKI criteria. There was no significant difference in mean OB-CMI scores (mean 3.8 versus 4.1; P=.782) or incidence of individual comorbidities between groups. Regarding other maternal morbidity events, ACOG/SMFM criteria AKI was significantly associated with other severe morbidity events (47.4% versus 12.3%; P<.001), including transfusion, disseminated intravascular coagulation, intubation, and intensive care unit admission. CONCLUSION: The OB-CMI score was poorly predictive of AKI severity; however, the occurrence of severe AKI by ACOG/SMFM criteria was associated with a 4-fold increased rate of co-occurring maternal morbidity events and a 2.5-fold increased rate of blood transfusion.

Comparative Evaluation of Whole Blood Clotting Test as a Diagnostic Predictor of Venom Induced Consumption Coagulopathy in Hemotoxic Snake Bite

Comparative Evaluation of Whole Blood Clotting Test as a Diagnostic Predictor of Venom Induced Consumption Coagulopathy in Hemotoxic Snake Bite

Limb Ischemic Necrosis Secondary to Microvascular Thrombosis: A Brief Historical Review.

Ischemic limb injury can be broadly classified into arterial (absent pulses) and venous/microvascular (detectable pulses); the latter can be divided into two overlapping disorders-venous limb gangrene (VLG) and symmetrical peripheral gangrene (SPG). Both VLG and SPG feature predominant acral (distal) extremity ischemic necrosis, although in some instances, concomitant nonacral ischemia/skin necrosis occurs. Historically, for coagulopathic disorders with prominent nonacral ischemic necrosis, clinician-scientists implicated depletion of natural anticoagulants, especially involving the protein C (PC) system. This historical review traces the recognition of natural anticoagulant depletion as a key feature of nonacral ischemic syndromes, such as classic warfarin-induced skin necrosis, neonatal purpura fulminans (PF), and meningococcemia-associated PF. However, only after several decades was it recognized that natural anticoagulant depletion is also a key feature of predominantly acral ischemic microthrombosis syndromes-VLG and SPG-even when accompanying nonacral thrombosis is not present. These acquired acral limb ischemic syndromes typically involve the triad of (a) disseminated intravascular coagulation, (b) natural anticoagulant depletion, and (c) a localizing explanation for microthrombosis occurring in one or more limbs, either deep vein thrombosis (helping to explain VLG) or circulatory shock (helping to explain SPG). In most cases of VLG or SPG there are one or more events that exacerbate natural anticoagulant depletion, such as warfarin therapy (e.g., warfarin-associated VLG complicating heparin-induced thrombocytopenia or cancer hypercoagulability) or acute ischemic hepatitis ("shock liver") as a proximate factor predisposing to severe depletion of hepatically synthesized natural anticoagulants (PC, antithrombin) in the setting of circulatory shock.

Community-acquired Klebsiella pneumoniae pneumonia in ICU: a multicenter retrospective study

BackgroundAlongside the recent worldwide expansion of hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (KP) infections, the available literature regarding cases of community acquired pneumonias (KP-CAP) remains scarce but reports a strikingly high and early mortality. We performed a retrospective multicenter study (7 ICU in France) between 2015 and 2019, comparing prognosis and severity of KP-CAP versus Streptococcus pneumoniae - CAP (SP-CAP).MethodsFor each KP-CAP, three SP-CAP admitted in ICUs within the same center and within the same 6-month window were selected. When available, KP strains were studied, and bacterial virulence was genetically assessed for virulence factors. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Associations between clinical outcomes and type of infection were tested using univariate and multivariate logistic regressions, adjusted for pairing variables.ResultsTwenty-seven KP-CAP and 81 SP-CAP were included. Respective in-hospital mortality rates were 59% (n = 16) and 17% (n = 14, p < 0.001), despite adequate antibiotic therapy. KP-CAP median time from admission to death was 26.9 h [IQR 5.75–44 h] and were significantly associated with higher rates of multiple organ failures (93% vs. 42%, p < 0.001), disseminated intravascular coagulation (12% vs. 1.3%, p = 0.046), septic shock (median lactate on ICU admission 4.60 vs. 2.90 mmol/L, p = 0.030) and kidney failure (KDIGO-3: 87% vs. 44%, p < 0.001). Interestingly, alcoholism was the only identified predisposing factor of KP-CAP. Severity on ICU admission (2-fold higher for KP-CAP) was the only factor associated with mortality in a multivariate analysis.ConclusionWe described a strong association between KP-CAP infection and higher and earlier mortality when compared to SP-CAP. Moreover, alcoholism was the sole predisposing factor associated with KP-CAP infection. These findings should raise awareness of clinicians involved in the management of severe CAP about this microbiological etiology. Future prospective studies are needed to confirm these results and to design strategies to improve the prognosis of such infections.

Thromboelastometry for assessment of hemostasis and disease severity in 42 dogs with naturally-occurring heatstroke.

Thromboelastometry (TEM) provides a comprehensive overview of the entire coagulation process and has not been evaluated in heatstroke-induced coagulopathies in dogs. To determine the diagnostic and prognostic utility of TEM in dogs with heatstroke. Forty-two client-owned dogs with heatstroke. Prospective observational study. Blood samples for intrinsic and extrinsic TEM (INTEM and EXTEM, respectively) were collected at presentation and every 12 to 24 hours for 48 hours. Coagulation phenotype (hypo-, normo-, or hypercoagulable) was defined based on TEM area under the 1st derivative curve (AUC). Case fatality rate was 31%. Median TEM variables associated with death (P < .05 for all) included longer INTEM clotting time, lower AUC at presentation and at 12 to 24 hours postpresentation (PP), lower INTEM alpha angle, maximum clot firmness, and maximum lysis (ML) at 12 to 24 hours PP, and lower EXTEM ML at 12 to 24 hours PP. Most dogs were normo-coagulable on presentation (66% and 63% on EXTEM and INTEM, respectively), but hypo-coagulable 12 to 24 PP (63% for both EXTEM and INTEM). A hypo-coagulable INTEM phenotype was more frequent at presentation and 12 to 24 PP among nonsurvivors compared to survivors (55% vs 15% and 100% vs 50%, P = .045 and .026, respectively). AKI was more frequent (P = .015) in dogs with hypo-coagulable INTEM tracings at 12 to 24 hours. Disseminated intravascular coagulation was more frequent (P < .05) in dogs with a hypo-coagulable INTEM phenotype and in nonsurvivors at all timepoints. Hypocoagulability, based on INTEM AUC, is predictive of worse prognosis and occurrence of secondary complications.

Outcomes of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation treatment post open congenital heart surgery

Objective: ECMO (Extra-Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation) is a technique that temporarily supports heart and lung function by a cardiopulmonary bypass system to treat patients who have failed to respond to the conventional treatments for cardiac or respiratory after congenital heart surgery. The objective of this study is to evaluate the outcomes of ECMO treatment post congenital heart surgery at the National Children's Hospital. Subjects and methods: Descriptive, cross-sectional research method on 64 ECMO patients post open heart surgery from January 1, 2017 until August 30, 2023 at the Department of Surgical Cardiovascular Intensive Care, Cardiovascular Center, National Children's Hospital. Results: Of 64 patients analyzed, the median age of the study group was 1.6 months, 89.1% of patients were children younger than 12 months old; median weight is 3.6 kg. The success rate of ECMO weaning was 56.3%. Overall survival of the cohort was 43.8%. The mean ECMO duration was 5,7 (IQR, 3,7-10,6) days, the mean hospital stay was 32 (IQR, 21,5-50) days, the mean ICU stay was 19,5 (IQR, 13,3-29) days. Mechanical complications during ECMO support include cannula bleeding and circuit thrombus. Acute kidney injury, hypertransaminase, and DIC (disseminated intravascular coagulation) are the most common patient-related complications during ECMO. Conclusion: ECMO is a viable rescue strategy for cardiac surgery patients with ECMO weaning rate and survival rate were 56.3% and 43.8%, respectively, nearly equivalent to other heart centers.

Acute Kidney Injury in Pregnancy: A Prospective Study.

When acute kidney damage occurs during pregnancy, it poses a difficult clinical problem. One of the main causes of maternal and fetal morbidity and death is pregnancy-related acute kidney injury (AKI), a significant obstetric complication characterized by a fast deterioration in renal function and several subsequent clinical problems. The objective of the study is to analyze the etiological factors, clinical manifestations, and maternal and fetal outcomes of AKI during pregnancy. This prospective observational research involved patients hospitalized in the General Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynecology departments at Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, for a year (October 2021 to September 2022) due to obstetric difficulties resulting in acute renal damage. The study included 62 patients with a mean age of 25.08±4.25 years. The majority of patients in our study were aged 18-25 years (38, 61.3%), followed by 26-30 years (19, 30.6%) and >30 years (5, 8.1%). The majority of patients in our study were non-booked (52, 83.9%) and presented as emergency cases, whereas 10 (16.1%) patients had booked. In addition, 34 (54.8%) patients were primigravida, while 28 (45.1%) were multigravida. There were 25 patients in their third trimester (40.3%), 19 who were postpartum (30.6%), 10 who were post-abortion (16.1%), and eight in their second trimester (12.9%). Upon admission, the majority of the patients showed signs of oliguria, accounting for 45 cases (72.6%). This was followed by nine cases of abnormal kidney function (14.5%) and eight cases of anuria (12.9%). Among the other symptoms, fever was observed in 25 cases (40.32%), whereas breathlessness increased to 15 cases (24.19%), edema was present in 14 cases (22.58%), vomiting and altered sensorium were observed in four cases (6.45%), abdominal pain was observed in three cases (4.83%), and burning micturition was observed in two cases (3.22%). The most common causes of AKI in pregnancy in the present study were puerperal sepsis (18 cases, 29.0%), followed by preeclampsia/eclampsia (14 cases, 22.6%), hemorrhagic shock (10 cases, 16.1%), septic abortion (six cases, 9.7%), hyperemesis gravidarum (four cases, 6.5%), acute fatty liver of pregnancy (three cases, 4.8%), disseminated intravascular coagulation (three cases, 4.8%), drug-induced sepsis (two cases, 3.2%), and urosepsis (two cases, 3.2%). Modes of delivery in this study were normal vaginal delivery (32 cases, 51.6%), lower segment cesarean section (21 cases, 33.9%), dilation and evacuation (seven cases, 11.3%), and total hysterectomy (two cases, 3.2%). Hemodialysis was performed in 39 patients (62.9%), and 51 (82.3%) received blood transfusions. The mean systolic and diastolic BP (mmHg) were 111.37±22.60 and 71.40±18.88, respectively. Maternal outcome data revealed that 48 (77.4%) women had fully recovered, eight (12.9%) had not recovered, 43 (69.4%) were lost to follow-up, and two (3.2%) had died. Neonatal outcomes in the present study were as follows: live birth, 43 (69.4%); abortion, eight (12.9%); intrauterine death of the fetus, five (8.1%); and neonatal mortality, six (9.7%). The diagnosis and treatment of AKI during pregnancy is a significant challenge for the treating physician because of the pathophysiological changes that occur during pregnancy, the variability of symptoms, and the fact that clinical and laboratory features may occasionally overlap.

Masqueraders Around Disaster: Clinical Features of Scrub Typhus in Fukushima, Japan.

Scrub typhus (ST) is endemic in Fukushima, with the largest number of cases reported in Japan from 2009 to 2010. Although ST is highly treatable, its atypical clinical presentation impedes diagnosis, causing delays in treatment. We review the clinical features of ST in adults from 2008 to 2017 at Ohta Nishinouchi General Hospital in Fukushima, Japan. Fifty-five cases (serotype Karp 24, Irie/Kawasaki 21, Hirano/Kuroki 10) of ST were confirmed via serology based on elevated immunoglobulin (Ig)M and IgG and polymerase chain reaction positivity of eschar samples. The mean age was 69 years, and 64% were female. The case fatality rate was 1.8% (1/55). Approximately 70% of cases (38/55) were not diagnosed as ST upon the initial clinic visit. Inappropriate use of antibiotics was identified in 22% of cases (12/55). In terms of atypical clinical features, 1 or more of the manifestations, fever, rash, and eschar, was absent in 31% of cases (17/55). Approximately 11% of cases presented without eschar (6/55; Karp 1, Irie/Kawasaki 1, Hirano/Kuroki 4). Moreover, severe complications were observed with shock and disseminated intravascular coagulation in 7% of cases (4/55), Thus, while 53% of cases presented with the typical triad (29/55), unusual complications and atypical features occurred in 40% (22/55). Diagnosis of ST becomes clinically challenging in the absence of typical features. In Fukushima, an endemic area of ST, an atypical presentation involving multisystem disease is common.

Prothrombotic autoantibodies targeting platelet factor 4/polyanion are associated with pediatric cerebral malaria.

BACKGROUNDFeatures of consumptive coagulopathy and thromboinflammation are prominent in cerebral malaria (CM). We hypothesized that thrombogenic autoantibodies contribute to a procoagulant state in CM.METHODSPlasma from children with uncomplicated malaria (UM) (n = 124) and CM (n = 136) was analyzed by ELISA for a panel of 8 autoantibodies including anti-platelet factor 4/polyanion (anti-PF4/P), anti-phospholipid, anti-phosphatidylserine, anti-myeloperoxidase, anti-proteinase 3, anti-dsDNA, anti-β-2-glycoprotein I, and anti-cardiolipin. Plasma samples from individuals with nonmalarial coma (NMC) (n = 49) and healthy controls (HCs) (n = 56) were assayed for comparison. Associations with clinical and immune biomarkers were determined using univariate and logistic regression analyses.RESULTSMedian anti-PF4/P and anti-PS IgG levels were elevated in individuals with malaria infection relative to levels in HCs (P < 0.001) and patients with NMC (PF4/P: P < 0.001). Anti-PF4/P IgG levels were elevated in children with CM (median = 0.27, IQR: 0.19-0.41) compared with those with UM (median = 0.19, IQR: 0.14-0.22, P < 0.0001). Anti-PS IgG levels did not differ between patients with UM and those with CM (P = 0.39). When patients with CM were stratified by malaria retinopathy (Ret) status, the levels of anti-PF4/P IgG correlated negatively with the peripheral platelet count in patients with Ret+ CM (Spearman's rho [Rs] = 0.201, P = 0.04) and associated positively with mortality (OR = 15.2, 95% CI: 1.02-275, P = 0.048). Plasma from patients with CM induced greater platelet activation in an ex vivo assay relative to plasma from patients with UM (P = 0.02), and the observed platelet activation was associated with anti-PF4/P IgG levels (Rs= 0.293, P = 0.035).CONCLUSIONSThrombosis mediated by elevated anti-PF4/P autoantibodies may be one mechanism contributing to the clinical complications of CM.

Overt disseminated intravascular coagulation and antithrombin III predict bleeding and in-hospital mortality in patients undergoing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Limited data are available on the relationship of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) with mortality in patients receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Thus, we investigated the association of DIC score and antithrombin (AT) III with clinical outcomes in patients undergoing ECMO. We analyzed 703 patients who underwent ECMO between January 2014 and May 2022 at Samsung Medical Center. The DIC score was calculated using laboratory findings within 24 h of the ECMO initiation, and ≥ 5 was defined as overt DIC. In addition, the AT III level was measured to identify the correlation with the DIC score. Among the study patients, 169 (24.0%) were diagnosed with overt DIC (DIC group) during early maintenance therapy. In-hospital mortality was significantly higher in the DIC group than in the non-DIC group (55.0% vs. 36.5%, p < 0.001). Bleeding events were significantly higher in the group of patients with a DIC score of 7 or 8 than in the other group (20.8% vs. 8.4%, p = 0.038). DIC score negatively correlated with AT III level (r = -0.417, p < 0.001). The predictive performance of AT III for overt DIC had statistical significance with a c-static of 0.81 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.77-0.84, p < 0.001). Overt DIC was associated with higher in-hospital mortality and a tendency to bleed in ECMO patients. Furthermore, AT III plasma levels can easily predict overt DIC in patients undergoing ECMO. These findings suggest that monitoring AT III plasma levels may be important in the management of ECMO.

Isolation and Functional Characterization of Erythrofibrase: An Alfa-Fibrinogenase Enzyme from Trimeresurus erythrurus Venom of North-East India.

Green pit viper bites induce mild toxicity with painful local swelling, blistering, cellulitis, necrosis, ecchymosis and consumptive coagulopathy. Several bite cases of green pit vipers have been reported in several south-east Asian countries including the north-eastern region of India. The present study describes isolation and characterization of a haemostatically active protein from Trimeresurus erythrurus venom responsible for coagulopathy. Using a two-step chromatographic method, a snake venom serine protease erythrofibrase was purified to homogeneity. SDS-PAGE of erythrofibrase showed a single band of ~30 kDa in both reducing and non-reducing conditions. The primary structure of erythrofibrase was determined by ESI LC-MS/MS, and the partial sequence obtained showed 77% sequence similarity with other snake venom thrombin-like enzymes (SVTLEs). The partial sequence obtained had the typical 12 conserved cysteine residues, as well as the active site residues (His57, Asp102 and Ser195). Functionally, erythrofibrase showed direct fibrinogenolytic activity by degrading the Aα chain of bovine fibrinogen at a slow rate, which might be responsible for causing hypofibrinogenemia and incoagulable blood for several days in envenomated patients. Moreover, the inability of Indian polyvalent antivenom (manufactured by Premium Serum Pvt. Ltd., Maharashtra, India) to neutralize the thrombin-like and plasmin-like activity of erythrofibrase can be correlated with the clinical inefficacy of antivenom therapy. This is the first study reporting an α-fibrinogenase enzyme erythrofibrase from T. erythrurus venom, which is crucial for the pathophysiological manifestations observed in envenomated victims.

Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation in Diabetic Ketoacidosis – Rare but Dangerous

Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation in Diabetic Ketoacidosis – Rare but Dangerous