Antithrombin inactivation by neutrophil elastase requires heparin

Glycosaminoglycan Neutralization in Coagulation Control

The glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) heparan sulfate, dermatan sulfate, and heparin are important anticoagulants that inhibit clot formation through interactions with antithrombin and heparin cofactor II. Unfractionated heparin, low-molecular-weight heparin, and heparin-derived drugs are often the main treatments used clinically to handle coagulatory disorders. A wide range of proteins have been reported to bind and neutralize these GAGs to promote clot formation. Such neutralizing proteins are involved in a variety of other physiological processes, including inflammation, transport, and signaling. It is clear that these interactions are important for the control of normal coagulation and influence the efficacy of heparin and heparin-based therapeutics. In addition to neutralization, the anticoagulant activities of GAGs may also be regulated through reduced synthesis or by degradation. In this review, we describe GAG neutralization, the proteins involved, and the molecular processes that contribute to the regulation of anticoagulant GAG activity.

Bench-to-bedside review: Citrate for continuous renal replacement therapy, from science to practice

To prevent clotting in the extracorporeal circuit during continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) anticoagulation is required. Heparin is still the most commonly used anticoagulant. However, heparins increase the risk of bleeding, especially in critically ill patients. Evidence has accumulated that regional anticoagulation of the CRRT circuit with citrate is feasible and safe. Compared to heparin, citrate anticoagulation reduces the risk of bleeding and requirement for blood products, not only in patients with coagulopathy, but also in those without. Metabolic complications are largely prevented by the use of a strict protocol, comprehensive training and integrated citrate software. Recent studies indicate that citrate can even be used in patients with significant liver disease provided that monitoring is intensified and the dose is carefully adjusted. Since the citric acid cycle is oxygen dependent, patients at greatest risk of accumulation seem to be those with persistent lactic acidosis due to poor tissue perfusion. The use of citrate may also be associated with less inflammation due to hypocalcemia-induced suppression of intracellular signaling at the membrane and avoidance of heparin, which may have proinflammatory properties. Whether these beneficial effects increase patient survival needs to be confirmed. However, other benefits are the reason that citrate should become the first choice anticoagulant for CRRT provided that its safe use can be guaranteed.

Clinical review: anticoagulation for continuous renal replacement therapy--heparin or citrate?

Heparin is the most commonly prescribed anticoagulant for continuous renal replacement therapy. There is, however, increasing evidence questioning its safety, particularly in the critically ill. Heparin mainly confers its anticoagulant effect by binding to antithrombin. Heparin binds to numerous other proteins and cells as well, however, compromising its efficacy and safety. Owing to antithrombin consumption and degradation, and to the binding of heparin to acute phase proteins, and to apoptotic and necrotic cells, critical illness confers heparin resistance. The nonspecific binding of heparin further leads to an unpredictable interference with inflammation pathways, microcirculation and phagocytotic clearance of dead cells, with possible deleterious consequences for patients with sepsis and systemic inflammation. Regional anticoagulation with citrate does not increase the patient's risk of bleeding. The benefits of citrate further include a longer or similar circuit life, and possibly better patient and kidney survival. This needs to be confirmed in larger randomized controlled multicenter trials. The use of citrate might be associated with less inflammation and has useful bio-energetic implications. Citrate can, however, with inadequate use cause metabolic derangements. Full advantages of citrate can only be realized if its risks are well controlled. These observations suggest a greater role for citrate.

In vivo effect of adhesion inhibitor heparin on Legionella pneumophila pathogenesis in a murine pneumonia model

OBJECTIVE

To examine the effect of intratracheal heparin instillation on Legionella pneumophila-related acute lung injury (ALI) and systemic dissemination.

DESIGN

Prospective, controlled experimental study.

SETTING

University research laboratory.

INTERVENTIONS

A/J mice received 5 microg of sulfated heparin intratracheally co-instilled with 10(6) or 10(8) colony-forming units (CFU) of a virulent isolate of L. pneumophila.

MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS

ALI was assessed in control groups (PBS and PBS-heparin) and on days 1, 2 and 3 post-infection, in terms of the lung wet-to-dry (W/D) weight ratios and of lung endothelial permeability to radio-labeled albumin (Perm-I(125)). Lung bacterial loads were measured and systemic spread was assessed by blood and target organ culture. The alveolar inflammatory response was evaluated by measuring the cytokine levels (TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, IL-6 and IL-12p70) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALF). Co-instilled heparin improved mouse survival after the 10(8) CFU challenge (p < 0.01). On day 2, heparin co-instillation significantly reduced the W/D ratio and Perm-I(125) (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001 respectively), improved lung bacterial clearance (p < 0.001), prevented systemic dissemination (blood, liver, spleen, kidneys and brain cultures, all p < 0.05) and significantly increased IFN-gamma and IL-12p70 levels in BALF (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Heparin co-instillation during intratracheal L. pneumophila challenge has a protective effect on the alveolar-capillary barrier and prevents bacterial dissemination. These results tend to confirm the competitive inhibition by heparin of L. pneumophila attachment to lung epithelium in vivo, and point to the possible involvement of a heparan-sulfate adhesin in L. pneumophila binding to pneumocytes.

Plasma proteinase inhibitor activity and hemostasis tests in children with nephrotic syndrome. Effect of prednisone alone and prednisone plus epsilon-aminocaproic acid treatment regimens: a preliminary report

Neutrophil-derived proteinases cause glomerular injury by proteolysis of the glomerular basement membrane and alterations in glomerular metabolism. Recently, a marked elevation of the plasma elastase complex with alpha1-proteinase inhibitor (alpha 1-PI) both in the acute phase and during remission of nephrotic syndrome (NS) compared with age-matched controls was reported. In experimental immune-mediated glomerulonephritis epsilon-aminocaproic acid (EACA) significantly reduced albuminuria, and it was suggested that this may be linked with the antiproteolytic activity of the drug. We studied plasma antithrombin III (AT-III), alpha 1-PI, alpha 2-antiplasmin (alpha 2-A), alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2-M) activity, and some blood coagulation and fibrinolysis tests in children with frequently relapsing prednisone-responsive NS. Also, the effect of prednisone alone (Group I, n = 9) and prednisone plus EACA (Group II, n = 10) treatment regimens on the studied parameters was estimated. All investigations were performed on admission to the hospital and after approximately 13 days of prednisone alone therapy (Group I), as well as before the administration of prednisone plus EACA and 24 hours after the last dose of EACA, ie, after approximately 5 days of treatment (Group II). Prednisone was administered at the usual dose of approximately 2 mg/kg/d and EACA was given orally at the doses of 72 to 230 mg/kg of body weight per day for 3 to 10 days. In the acute phase of disease, NS patients (n = 19) were shown to have a statistically significant decrease of plasma AT-III (16.4 +/- 4.7 vs. 21.9 +/- 2.5 IU/mL) and alpha 1-PI (1.28 +/- 0.6 vs. 1.97 +/- 0.34 IU/mL) activity, as well as a marked increase in plasma alpha 2-M activity (14.96 +/- 5.81 vs. 9.6 +/- 1.6 IU/mL), and fibrinogen concentration (5.51 +/- 1.78 vs. 2.96 +/- 0.34 g/L) compared to the age-matched controls; no significant changes in plasma alpha 2-A activity, plasminogen concentration, euglobulin clot lysis time, activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), or thromboplastin time were noted. In children treated with prednisone alone, a marked increase in plasma AT-III (by 76%, P < 0.001) and alpha 2-A (36%, P < 0.019) activity, and a significant decrease of the plasma fibrinogen concentration (6.07 +/- 1.66 vs. 3.17 +/- 1.64 g/L, P < 0.001), and APTT (45.1 +/- 7.6 vs. 33.8 +/- 4.4 s, P < 0.001) were found. Prednisone plus EACA therapy resulted in a significant increase in plasma AT-III activity (by 53%, P < 0.003), whereas plasma fibrinogen concentration and APTT remained unchanged. However, statistically significant differences between the pre- and posttreatment plasma AT-III, alpha 1-PI, and alpha 2-A activities in these patients were observed. There was also a relationship between EACA dose and the percentage change in plasma alpha 2-A activity. In a few patients receiving prednisone plus EACA regimen, side effects that included purulent rhinitis, pharyngitis, increases in body temperature, loose stools, and an approximately 20% to 30% decrease in systolic and diastolic arterial blood pressure were observed. Thus, although the prednisone plus EACA treatment regimen seems to offer new therapeutic possibilities in some patients with NS, it should not be used in acute phase of the disease.

[The paradox of disseminated intravascular coagulation]

Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is an abnormal extension of a coagulation process normally limited in time and space. DIC results from the release of free thrombin in circulating blood, as thrombin synthesis and inactivation mechanisms non longer function properly. In addition to microthrombosis, acute DIC may lead to haemorrhage related to activation of the coagulation process. According to the disease aetiology, emergency treatment may become a top priority, in case of haemorrhage, shortage of platelets and coagulation factors related to increased use of these blood components requires replacement treatment with infusion of platelets and fresh frozen plasma. As treatment of the procoagulation process, heparin should not be recommanded in acute DIC with haemorrhage. Based on rational theoretical data, current evaluation of antithrombin therapy is in progress.

Application of argatroban, direct thrombin inhibitor, in heparin-intolerant patients requiring extracorporeal circulation

This study describes the present knowledge regarding the clinical application of argatroban, a direct competitive thrombin inhibitor for heparin-intolerant patients, including those with congenital and acquired antithrombin III deficiencies, those with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, and those with high levels of polymorphonuclear granulocyte elastase. These patients are often associated with intracircuit clot formation with heparin anticoagulation during extracorporeal circulation. Therefore, argatroban may be chosen as one of the alternate anticoagulants. Because the anticoagulant effect of argatroban is reflected in the prolongation of activated thromboplastin time, monitoring is easy, similar to that for heparin. Because argatroban has a fast acting anticoagulant effect without any cofactors such as antithrombin III, this drug is a favorable anticoagulant for heparin-intolerant patients with antithrombin III deficiencies requiring extracorporeal circulation. In adverse reactions to heparin, heparin acts as an antigen after complexing with platelet factor 4, which leads to life-threatening heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. As argatroban prevents heparin-induced platelet aggregation, it is effective for use as a therapeutic anticoagulant. In other clinical applications, heparin decreases antithrombin activity and causes intracircuit clot formation during extracorporeal circulation when the polymorphonuclear granulocyte elastase level is very high. The antithrombin activity shows less decrease when argatroban is substituted for heparin. These findings indicate that argatroban is a useful alternative anticoagulant in these heparin-intolerant patients.

Coagulation disorders in septic shock

Abnormalities in coagulation and fibrinolysis are frequently observed in septic shock. The most pronounced clinical manifestation is disseminated intravascular coagulation. Recent studies in human volunteers and animal models have clarified the early dynamics and route of activation of both coagulation and fibrinolytic pathways. In healthy subjects subjected to a low dose of either endotoxin or TNF an imbalance in the procoagulant and the fibrinolytic mechanisms is apparent, resulting in a procoagulant state. Also in patients with septic shock a dynamic process of coagulation and fibrinolysis is ongoing with evidence of impaired fibrinolysis. These abnormalities have prognostic significance; the extent of disturbances of coagulation and fibrinolysis is related to the development of multiple organ failure and death.

In vivo inactivation of antithrombin III is promoted by heparin during cardiopulmonary bypass

To study the in vivo effect of heparin on antithrombin III (AT3) when elastase is elevated, the blood of 20 patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) was assayed for elastase and AT3. The model was chosen because CPB is known to increase plasma elastase and the patients were heparinized. The blood of 20 patients undergoing cardiac surgery was assayed for elastase and AT3 one day preoperatively, every half hour during CPB, and one day postoperatively. Elastase increased significantly and AT3 decreased significantly during CPB. There was a direct correlation between the rise in elastase and decrease in AT3. AT3 decreased even further when elastase was elevated and patients were heparinized (AT3/elastase = 0.04 + 0.07), compared with the drop with elevated elastase alone (AT3/elastase = 0.11 + 0.14) (P less than .0015). These data indicate that (1) CPB is associated with an increase in plasma elastase, (2) elevated plasma elastase is associated with a reduction in AT3, and (3) heparin promotes the inactivation of AT3 when serum elastase is increased. These data confirm the in vitro observation that heparin accelerates the inactivation of AT3 in the presence of elastase.