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Case Reports
. 2009 Jul-Sep;13(3):163-6.
doi: 10.4103/0972-5229.58544.

Concurrent administration of heparin and activated protein C in a patient with pulmonary embolism and severe sepsis with positive outcome

Affiliations
Case Reports

Concurrent administration of heparin and activated protein C in a patient with pulmonary embolism and severe sepsis with positive outcome

Deven Juneja et al. Indian J Crit Care Med. 2009 Jul-Sep.

Abstract

Results of the PROWESS trial suggested that heparin may reduce the efficacy of recombinant human activated protein C (rhAPC) and the XPRESS study also showed increased bleeding complications in patients receiving heparin with rhAPC. Although it has been shown that heparin prophylaxis may be used along with rhAPC, no study has shown the interaction between continuous heparin infusion and rhAPC. Here, we report a case of severe sepsis with pulmonary embolism who was concurrently administered heparin and rhAPC infusions, with positive results and no bleeding complications.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Electrocardiograph showing S wave in lead I, Q wave in lead III and T wave inversion in lead III (S1Q3T3 pattern)
Figure 2
Figure 2
CT pulmonary angiography scan showing the filling defects (marked by arrows) in the right lower lobe segmental artery, which is suggestive of pulmonary embolism

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