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Updated: Aug 12, 2026

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Published on: May 7, 2011
Septic shock caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae in a post-splenectomy patient successfully treated with recombinant
Christian Schumann1, Kathy Triantafilou, Joachim Kamenz
1Department of Internal Medicine II, University of Ulm, Germany. christian.schumann@medizin.uni-ulm.de
Abstract:
We present a case of severe sepsis due to Streptococcus pneumoniae, serotype 22F treated with recombinant human activated protein C (drotrecogin alpha activated) (DrotAA). APACHE II score at admission was 34 with a predicted mortality of 81%. A wide range of cytokines, chemokines and receptors was measured before and after DrotAA treatment. Soon after infusion of 24 microg DrotAA per kg bodyweight and h (microg/kg/h) over a period of 96 h, cytokine levels fell markedly. The patient survived and was discharged after 6 weeks of hospitalization. In conclusion, administration of DrotAA in a case of Streptococcus pneumoniae-induced septic shock was followed by dramatic changes in serum levels of immuno-regulatory cytokines.
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