Treatment of acute infectious purpura fulminans with activated protein C

M R Lokeshwar1, T Singhal, S V Udani

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, P.D. Hinduja National Hospital and Research Center, Veer Savarkar Marg, Mumbai 400 016, India.

Indian Pediatrics
|July 6, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Infectious purpura fulminans in children can be severe. Activated protein C (APC) showed promising results in two cases, but further randomized trials are needed to confirm its effectiveness as a standard treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric critical care medicine
  • Hematology
  • Infectious diseases

Background:

  • Infectious purpura fulminans (IPF) presents a significant clinical challenge with high mortality and morbidity.
  • Standard antimicrobial therapies often prove insufficient in managing IPF effectively.

Observation:

  • This report details the successful treatment of two pediatric patients diagnosed with sepsis-associated purpura fulminans.
  • Both children received activated protein C (APC) as part of their therapeutic regimen.

Findings:

  • The treated children experienced satisfactory clinical outcomes following the administration of APC.
  • Activated protein C demonstrated a positive impact on the clinical course of these severe cases.

Implications:

  • Activated protein C (APC) may represent a potential therapeutic option for severe infectious purpura fulminans in children.
  • Randomized controlled trials are essential to rigorously evaluate the efficacy and safety of APC before its adoption as standard care.
  • Further research is crucial to establish the role of APC in the management protocols for childhood IPF.

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