Biotech Values

[DewDiligence]

New abstract on antithrombin treatment in DIC / sepsis:

[DIC/sepsis is supposedly one the candidate indications of *acquired* AT deficiency that GTCB is considering for its non-HD ATryn program. The selection of the indication to be pursued will be made next year, but I think burns is the frontrunner; I’ll be surprised if DIC/sepsis gets the nod.

This is the second published study out of Austria on this subject—the other one is in #msg-7268415.]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_...

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Crit Care. 2005 Sep 19;9(6):R596-R600 [Epub ahead of print]

Reduction of D-dimer levels after therapeutic administration of antithrombin in acquired antithrombin deficiency of severe sepsis.

Kountchev J, Bijuklic K, Bellmann R, Wiedermann CJ, Joannidis M.

Resident, Medical Intensive Care Unit, Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University Innsbruck, Austria.

INTRODUCTION: In acute disseminated intravascular coagulation, the effect of antithrombin (AT) administration on elevated levels of D-dimer is not well established. In the present study, we report on changes in circulating levels of D-dimer in response to administration of AT in a series of patients with acquired AT deficiency due to severe sepsis.

METHODS: Eight consecutive critically ill medical patients presenting with acute disseminated intravascular coagulation associated with severe sepsis/septic shock received a single bolus infusion of AT over 30 minutes, aiming to achieve physiological AT levels. Haemostatic parameters including D-dimer were assessed prior to, 6 and 24 h after AT administration. An average of 42 +/- 9 U/kg body weight was infused.

RESULTS: Following AT substitution, elevated levels of D-dimer fell whereas AT levels rose.

CONCLUSION: These observations support the notion that AT can favourably affect fibrin degradation accompanying disseminated intravascular coagulation of severe sepsis.
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