Effect of a platelet activating factor antagonist and antithrombin III on septicemia and endotoxemia in rats

Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) or renal damage associated with septicemia was induced in rats by ligating the cecum or by injecting endotoxin. In the septicemia model, the number of E. coli and Bacteroides spp in the blood increased concomitantly with an increase of endotoxin. In this model the development of hypercoagulability with mild fibrinolysis was observed. Histopathologic findings in the kidneys, including the formation of microthrombi in the glomeruli and the vacuolization and dilatation of renal tubular cells, suggest the development of mild DIC. In the endotoxin-induced DIC model, both remarkable state of hypercoagulability and fibrinolysis were observed with fibrin thrombi in glomeruli. The administration of the platelet-activating factor antagonist, CV-6209, or of human antithrombin III, ameliorated DIC significantly by limiting the increases in prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time and fibrin degradation products. These agents significantly reduced the deposition of fibrin in the glomeruli and significantly prolonged the survival time of the endotoxin injected rats. These observations suggest that the PAF antagonist CV-6209 and ATIII merit clinical evaluation in the management of DIC caused by septisemia.