title: The use of drotrecogin alfa (activated) in severe sepsis during acute pancreatitis - two case studies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Twenty-five percent of patients with diagnosed acute pancreatitis (AP) present a severe form of it. One of the most widespread complications of such a form is severe sepsis or septic shock, in which mortality can reach 80%. A complication of this state is multiple organ failure, which requires multi-directional treatment in an intensive care unit (ICU). Among the standard therapies are: control of the source of infection, supportive treatment of failed organ function, and others (e.g. dietary therapy, pain management, and physiotherapy). It is also now possible to use recombinant human activated protein C [drotrecogin alfa (activated); Xigris, Eli Lilly, USA] in the treatment of severe sepsis.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, the cases of two patients in whom severe sepsis was found during the course of acute pancreatitis are presented. In both cases it was established clinically (by laparotomy) and bacteriologically that necrosis-altered fragments of the pancreas were the sources of infection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both the cases presented indicate that drotrecogin alfa (activated) interrupts the developmental cascade of severe sepsis. Proofs of the efficacy of the treatment were improvements in the functions of organs previously insufficient during the course of sepsis. The rapid elimination of the drug allowed planning therapy strategies (the possibility of conducting surgical operations and smaller therapeutic interventions) without the risk of increased bleeding. The decision to use Xigris in severe sepsis during AP should always include consideration of the risk of bleeding in connection with the local status within the pancreas.
authors.affiliation: Institute and Faculty of Anesthesiology and Intensive Therapy, Łódź Medical University, University Clinic No. 2, Łódź, Poland. w.machala@skwam.lodz.pl
authors.forename: Waldemar
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Machała
authors.forename: Norbert
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wachowicz
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Komorowska
authors.forename: Wojciech
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gaszyński
mesh_terms: D018806:APACHE; D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003422:Critical Care; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011486:Protein C / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018805:Sepsis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D011486:Protein C; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C421124:drotrecogin alfa activated