Original clinical investigation

Plasma fibrinolysis is related to the degree of organ dysfunction but not to the concentration of von Willebrand Factor in critically ill patients

Karim Zouaoui Boudjeltia¹ , Sandra Ollieuz² , Michael Piagnerelli³ , Patrick Biston² , Philippe Cauchie¹ , Jean-Louis Vincent³ , Dany Brohee¹ and Michel Vanhaeverbeek¹

¹  Experimental Medicine Laboratory (ULB 222 Unit), CHU-Charleroi, Vesale Hospital, 6110-Montigny-le-Tilleul, Belgium

²  Department of Intensive Care, CHU-Charleroi, 6000-Charleroi. Belgium

³  Department of Intensive Care, Erasme University Hospital, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 1070-Brussels. Belgium

author email corresponding author email

Thrombosis Journal 2009, 7:10doi:10.1186/1477-9560-7-10

Published:	19 June 2009

Abstract

Background

Endothelial cell dysfunction, by promoting fibrin deposition, has been implicated in the development of multiple organ failure. Altered fibrinolysis during inflammation may participate in microvascular alterations. We sought to determine whether plasma fibrinolysis was related to the severity of organ dysfunction and/or to the levels of von Willebrand factor (vWF antigen), as a marker of endothelium dysfunction, in critically ill patients.

Methods

Forty-nine consecutive patients admitted to an adult medico-surgical intensive care unit (ICU) with (18) or without sepsis (31) were included. C-reactive protein and vWF levels were measured on ICU admission and plasma fibrinolysis was assessed by the Euglobulin Clot Lysis Time (ECLT). The sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score and the simplified acute physiology score (SAPS) II were calculated on admission.

Results

ECLT was significantly longer in septic than in non-septic patients [1033 min (871–1372) versus 665 min (551–862), p = 0.001]. There were significant correlations between ECLT and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations (r = 0.78, p < 0.001) and the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score (r = 0.39, p = 0.006). The level of vWF was not correlated with the ECLT (r = -0.06, p = 0.65) or the SOFA score (r = -0.02, p = 0.88).

Conclusion

ECLT measurement at admission could be a marker of organ dysfunction and a prognostic indicator in critically ill patients.