HIGH-DOSE OF INTRAVENOUS ANTITHROMBIN-III WITHOUT HEPARIN IN THE TREATMENT OF DISSEMINATED INTRAVASCULAR COAGULATION AND ORGAN FAILURE IN 4CHILDREN

In several animal experiments, high doses of antithrombin III concentr ates have shown beneficial effects on mortality and reversal of coagul ation abnormalities which had resulted from disseminated intravascular coagulation, Other experiments have suggested that antithrombin III i nfusion without heparin is effective in the treatment of organ failure . We clinically treated children suffering disseminated intravascular coagulation only with antithrombin concentrate, Four patients sufferin g disseminated intravascular coagulation with organ failure were selec ted, We started antithrombin III concentrate infusion as soon as the d iagnosis was established. The dosage of antithrombin III was 120-250 u nits/kg/day for 2 or 3 days, Heparin was not used. All 4 patients reco vered completely and quickly without any complications within 14 days, We suggest that the high-dose antithrombin III infusion without hepar in is an effective and safe therapy for disseminated intravascular coa gulation with organ failure. (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.