Heparin Therapy in Septicemia with Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation

Abstract

Of 26 children with septic shock studied for coagulation defects, 24 received heparin in addition to standard therapy. Disseminated intravascular coagulation was diagnosed in 96 per cent. Of the heparin-treated patients 58 per cent died in shock; laboratory evidence of improvement in the coagulation defects occurred in all who survived and in three who died in shock. The presence of hypofibrinogenemia indicated a very poor prognosis but did not necessarily mean that shock was irreversible. Thus, heparin does not appear to improve survival in patients with septicemia and associated hypotension but may improve the coagulation defects. Improvement in the hypotension probably has a major role in abolishing disseminated intravascular coagulation.