Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 7, 2026

Characterizing Modulators of Protease-Activated Receptors with a Calcium Mobilization Assay Using a Plate Reader
Published on: May 24, 2024
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.
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.
Abstract:
Infectious purpura fulminans is associated with high mortality and morbidity despite standard antimicrobial therapy. We report satisfactory clinical outcome in two children with sepsis associated purpura fulminans who were treated with activated protein C (APC). There is need for proper evaluation of the efficacy of this extremely expensive therapeutic modality by randomized controlled trials before it is made standard of care in childhood infectious purpura fulminans.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Venous Thrombosis III: Interprofessional Care
Pulmonary Embolism II: Diagnostic Studies and Interprofessional Care
Anticoagulant Drugs: Low-Molecular-Weight Heparins
Clot Retraction and Fibrinolysis
Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Prostacyclin Receptor Agonists
These agonists bind to the IPR receptor situated on the plasma membrane of the pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells. This binding triggers a cascade of reactions known as the GS-AC-cAMP-PKA pathway. This pathway results in the relaxation of smooth muscle...
Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors and Calcium Channel Blockers
TKIs, such as imatinib (Gleevec), are particularly effective in tackling the growth and mitogenic factors that become upregulated in PAH patients. These factors contribute to the...

