Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2006 Aug 9:1:23.
doi: 10.1186/1749-7922-1-23.

A case report of a new pulmonary embolism occurring in a patient receiving continuous infusion of recombinant activated protein C

Bernard J Benedetto #  1 , Michael A Houston #  2
Affiliations

A case report of a new pulmonary embolism occurring in a patient receiving continuous infusion of recombinant activated protein C

Bernard J Benedetto et al. World J Emerg Surg. .

Abstract

Background: There are no guidelines governing the concomitant use of recombinant human activated protein C (rhAPC) and deep venous thrombosis/pulmonary embolism (DVT/PE) prophylaxis in critically ill patients. It is unknown if rhAPC provides any protection against DVT/PE in this population of patients.

Methods: Case report.

Results: This report describes the first case of a radiographically demonstrated pulmonary embolism occurring in a patient receiving continuous therapeutic infusion of rhAPC.

Conclusion: The administration of rhAPC alone may not be sufficient DVT/PE prophylaxis in high risk patients. The risks associated with concomitant anticoagulation and rhAPC therapy are unknown. Further research is necessary to determine the safest and most effective regimen for DVT/PE prophylaxis in patients receiving rhAPC.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
CT Angiogram obtained prior to infusion of rhAPC demonstrating no evidence of pulmonary embolism.
Figure 2
Figure 2
CT Angiogram obtained after 78 hours of infusion of rhAPC demonstrating a large saddle pulmonary embolism.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

References

    1. Bernard GR, Vincent JL, Laterre PF, LaRosa SP, Dhainaut JF, Lopez-Rodriguez A, Steingrub JS, Garner GE, Helterbrand JD, Ely EW, Fisher CJ. Efficacy and safety of recombinant human activated protein C for severe sepsis. N Engl J Med. 2001;344:699–709. doi: 10.1056/NEJM200103083441001. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Riewald M, Petrovan RJ, Donner A, Mueller BM, Ruf W. Activation of endothelial cell protease activated by protein C pathway. Science. 2002;296:1880–1882. doi: 10.1126/science.1071699. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Pingleton SK, Bone RC, Pingleton WW, Ruth WE. Prevention of pulmonary emboli in a respiratory intensive care unit: efficacy of low-dose heparin. Chest. 1981;79:647–650. - PubMed
    1. Cade JF. High risk of the critically ill for venous thromboembolism. Crit Care Med. 1982;10:448–450. - PubMed
    1. Halkin H, Goldberg J, Modan M. Reduction in general medical inpatients by low dose heparin prophylaxis. Ann Int Med. 1982;96:561–565. - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources