Effect of heparin and/or antithrombin III in a model of disseminated intravascular coagulation induced by endotoxin in rabbits

Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) was induced in 84 rabbits by intravenous infusion of 20 micrograms/kg/h of endotoxin during 6 hours. The following treatments were administered simultaneously with endotoxin: heparin, 5, 10 and 20 UI/kg/h, antithrombin III (AT III), 10, 20 and 40 U/kg/h or as a 240 U/kg bolus dose, and heparin (10 UI/kg/h) plus AT III (20 U/kg/h). Blood samples were taken before endotoxin and 2 and 6 hours after endotoxin to perform screening coagulation assays, factors V, VIII and XII, AT III, fibrin monomers and fibrinogen degradation products.

All treatments were able to modify some of the parameters related to DIC, but only AT III bolus dose and heparin plus AT III significantly reduced fibrin deposition in kidneys (p less than 0.05). All the therapeutic schedules significantly diminished the mortality rate.

We conclude that AT III bolus dose and heparin plus AT III are useful in the treatment of endotoxin-induced intravascular coagulation in rabbits.

CITATION Sangre (Barc). 1992 Feb;37(1):5-10