The use of activated protein C in severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria

Anaesth Intensive Care. 2007 Jun;35(3):428-32. doi: 10.1177/0310057X0703500320.

Abstract

A 56-year-old man presented to a peripheral hospital in New Zealand with severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria with cerebral involvement and subsequently developed multi-system organ failure. Activated protein C was used in an attempt to stop the cascade of events into multi-organ failure. Severe infection with P. falciparum is life-threatening and appears to activate a hypercoagulable state similar to that of severe sepsis. Activated protein C is currently used in the treatment of severe sepsis and may provide a new adjuvant therapy for severe P. falciparum malaria.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Infective Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Blood Coagulation Disorders / drug therapy
  • Fibrinolytic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Malaria, Cerebral / blood
  • Malaria, Cerebral / complications
  • Malaria, Cerebral / drug therapy
  • Malaria, Falciparum / blood
  • Malaria, Falciparum / complications
  • Malaria, Falciparum / drug therapy*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multiple Organ Failure / etiology
  • Multiple Organ Failure / prevention & control
  • Protein C / therapeutic use*
  • Recombinant Proteins / therapeutic use
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Anti-Infective Agents
  • Fibrinolytic Agents
  • Protein C
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • drotrecogin alfa activated