title: Disseminated intravascular coagulation in patients with meningococcal infection: laboratory diagnosis and prognostic factors.
abstract: In 36 patients with meningococcal infection a close association between the laboratory evidence of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and unfavourable prognostic factors was established. Patients with platelet count lessthan 100000/microliter, Normotest lessthan 50% and plasma fibrinogen concentration less than 100 mg/dl had a serious prognosis. No significant differences could be extablished between patients with infection from serogroup A and B meningococci for either laboratory evidence of DIC or prognostic factors.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D001780:Blood Coagulation Tests; D001792:Blood Platelets; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002701:Chloramphenicol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004211:Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000032:analysis; D006493:Heparin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D013424:Sulfanilamides / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D013424:Sulfanilamides; D002701:Chloramphenicol; D005340:Fibrinogen; D006493:Heparin