The effects of anticoagulants and antiplasmins for DIC on major organs

Organic disturbances induced by endotoxin shock and the effects of anticoagulants and antiplasmins on disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) occuring as a complication, were studied experimentally in dogs. Endotoxin was intravenously infused in dogs for 90 minutes at a dose of 2mg/kg to induce endotoxin shock. For therapy, heparin at a total dose of 1000units/kg and EACA at a total dose of 100mg/kg were given to experimental dogs. Half of the dose was given both before and simultaneously with the infusion of endotoxin. The parameters used to evaluate the organic disturbances and effects of treatment for DIC were WBC, platelet counts, levels of plasminogen, antiplasmin, antithrombin III, prothrombin time, blood pressure, microcirculatory status in the liver and kidney, S-GOT, S-GPT, S-BUN, S-Creatinine, respiration rate, and level of CH50 over a period of four hours.Immediately after the onset of endotoxin shock, DIC occurred and the symptoms of multiple organ failure (MOF) were observed. In the untreated cases, MOF progressed steadily in a short period of time after the onset of endotoxin shock. Administration of heparin improved the microcirculatoon of major organs, while that of EACA aggravated the microcirculatory status of major organs.These findings demonstrated that treatment for MOF should be started as soon as endotoxin shock is diagnosed and that anticoagulants such as heparin are useful in preventing the occurrence of DIC and MOF, while a single administration of antiplasmins is useless in improving DIC and MOF.