title: International integrated database for the evaluation of severe sepsis and drotrecogin alfa (activated) therapy: analysis of efficacy and safety data in a large surgical cohort.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The International Integrated Database for the Evaluation of Severe Sepsis and Drotrecogin alfa (activated) Therapy includes an extensive cohort of surgical patients (1659/4459; 37%). This database broadens the experience reported on a comparatively small set of surgical patients from the pivotal Protein C Worldwide Evaluation in Severe Sepsis trial to examine issues of safety and efficacy in a much larger cohort.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a retrospective analysis of prospectively defined outcomes from 5 integrated clinical studies of severe sepsis. Multivariable analyses incorporated propensity scores, treatment, and significant baseline risk factors as independent variables in logistic regression models for 2 outcomes: serious adverse events that were observed during infusion and 28-day, all-cause mortality rates. Adjusted odds ratios were calculated for clinically important strata. Multiple subcategories of serious bleeding-event rates are presented.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although surgical patients who were treated with drotrecogin alfa [activated] (DrotAA) experienced a greater proportion of serious bleeding events during the infusion period, most of the patients were treated without fatal consequence. A 10.7% absolute all cause mortality risk reduction (adjusted odds ratio, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.45-0.97) was observed for DrotAA-treated, high-risk (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II, >or=25) surgical patients. We could not demonstrate a survival benefit in DrotAA-treated, low-risk (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II, <25) surgical patients. When surgical patients were stratified by number of organ dysfunctions, absolute risk reductions were observed in both categories: multiorgan (4.3%) and single (4.5%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  International Integrated Database for the Evaluation of Severe Sepsis and Drotrecogin alfa (activated) Therapy analyses affirmed the favorable benefit/risk profile of DrotAA for surgical patients. The serious adverse event rate that was experienced by surgical patients during the study drug infusion period was 7.5% in the DrotAA-treated group versus 6.3% in the placebo-treated group (odds ratio, 1.41; 95% CI, 0.89-2.25). The clinical benefit of DrotAA therapy paralleled baseline risk of death and substantiated findings from the Protein C Worldwide Evaluation in Severe Sepsis study. Future analyses are needed to evaluate the special relationships among sepsis severity, bleeding management, and the postoperative timing of DrotAA administration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology & Critical Care, Lariboisiere University Hospital, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Didier
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Payen
authors.forename: Armin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sablotzki
authors.forename: Philip S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Barie
authors.forename: Graham
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ramsay
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lowry
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Samiha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sarwat
authors.forename: Justin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Northrup
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Toland
authors.forename: Frank V
authors.initials: FV
authors.lastname: McL Booth
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019992:Databases as Topic; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011486:Protein C / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018805:Sepsis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D011486:Protein C; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C421124:drotrecogin alfa activated