Thromboxane A2-receptor blockade and prostacyclin in porcine Escherichia coli shock

Septic shock was induced by intravenous infusion of live Escherichia coli in pigs to investigate the influences on central hemodynamic, coagulation, and fibrinolytic reactions by a thromboxane A2 (TxA2)-receptor blocker (BM 13.177; n = 6) and a prostacyclin analogue (iloprost or ZK 36,374; n = 7). The early pulmonary vasoconstriction following E coli infusion was attenuated, but not abolished, by BM 13.177. Only minor effects were seen after pretreatment with iloprost. Neither drug had any major effect on the coagulation and fibrinolytic activation. These results confirm that TxA2 is an important, but not the only, mediator of early pulmonary vascular response in porcine septicemia and that neither TxA2 nor prostacyclin is of major importance for the hemostatic reactions in this shock model.