title: Platelet factor 4 (PF4) in septicaemia.
abstract: The plasma concentrations of platelet factor 4 were measured in ten patients with septicaemia. In the acute phase the platelet factor 4 values were elevated (27.1 +/- 20.1 ng/ml; mean +/- SD; normal values 4.7 +/- 1.2 ng/ml), and declined significantly after treatment with antibiotics and surgical therapy, respectively (10.6 +/- 7.3 ng/ml; p less than 0.005). The determination of prothrombin time, fibrinopeptide A, AT III and platelet counts demonstrated a coagulation disorder in the acute phase of septicaemia in all patients; a thrombocytopenia (less than 100,000/mm3) was observed in three cases. We suggest that the measurement of platelet factor 4 concentration could be useful as an in vivo indicator and as a follow-up parameter of increased platelet activation.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik, Technischen Universität München.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lorenz
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brauer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001778:Blood Coagulation Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010978:Platelet Factor 4 / Q000378:metabolism*; D018805:Sepsis / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D010978:Platelet Factor 4