[Protein C concentrate in the treatment of severe sepsis in the pediatric setting].

Patients with severe sepsis develop acquired protein C deficiency, and the extent of such deficiency and negative clinical outcomes correlate. Replacing this protein may help prevent such a condition. Two protein C types are commercially available - concentrated and activated proteins. None is registered for the treatment of severe sepsis in the pediatric setting. Experience with protein C in this group of conditions is limited. Appropriate clinical trials are required to establish effectiveness and safety, and to elucidate the role of either protein C type in the management of this condition in the pediatric setting. This paper discusses experience with the use of protein C concentrate as an adjuvant treatment in addition to conventional therapy in three children with severe sepsis at a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. In all 3 cases of our study, high levels of protein C correlated to coagulation parameter normalization and reduced dimer D levels. Two out of three had a favorable outcome following treatment, whereas the third patient died as a result of septic shock and multiple organ dysfunction.