[Synthetic protease inhibitors in the treatment of disseminated intravascular coagulation]

Abstract

Anticoagulant therapy, correction of the hypercoagulable state underlying DIC (disseminated intravascular coagulation), can help the treatment of DIC. Synthetic protease inhibitors, which can block serine proteases, such as thrombin and plasmin, in the coagulative-fibrinolytic system, could prevent activation of coagulation factors and development of DIC, if administered properly. Clinically applicated protease inhibitors at present, such as gabexate mesilate (FOY), nafamostat mesilate (FUTHAN), urinastatin (MIRACLID), do not have the same spectrum of action, but the common characteristics are as follows. These inhibitors may be superior to heparin and do not require antithrombin III for their activities because of the competitive inhibitors to coagulative enzymes. The half time of these agents in human circulating blood is within several minutes and shorter than that of heparin.