Coagulation tests on admission correlate with mortality and morbidity in general ICU patients: An observational study.

BACKGROUND: It is well known that low platelet count on admission to intensive care units (ICU) is associated with increased mortality. However, it is unknown whether prothrombin time (PT-INR) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) on admission correlate with mortality and organ failure. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate whether PT-INR and APTT at admission can predict outcome in the critically ill patient after adjusting for severity of illness measured with Simplified Acute Physiology Score 3 (SAPS 3). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data were retrospectively collected. APTT and PT-INR taken on admission and SAPS 3 score were independent variables in all regression analyses. Survival analysis was done with Cox regression. Organ failure was reported as days alive and free (DAF) of vasopressors and invasive ventilation, need of continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) and Acute Kidney Injury Network creatinine score (AKIN-crea). RESULTS: A total of 3585 ICU patients were included. Prolonged APTT correlated with mortality with 95% confidence interval (CI) of hazard ratio 1.001-1.010. Prolonged APTT also correlated with DAF vasopressor, CRRT and AKIN-crea with 95% CI of odds ratio (OR) 1.009-1.034, 1.016-1.037 and 1.009-1.028, respectively. Increased PT-INR correlated with DAF vasopressor and DAF ventilator with 95% CI of OR 1.112-2.014 and 1.135-1.847, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Activated partial thromboplastin time prolongation was associated with mortality and all morbidity outcomes except the DAF ventilator. PT-INR increase at admission was associated with DAF vasopressor and DAF ventilator. APTT and PT-INR at admission correlate with morbidity, which is not accounted for in the SAPS 3 model.

Risk factors for early fatal outcomes among children with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH): a single-institution case-series in Vietnam.

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare and fatal hematological syndrome that causes a disturbance of the immune system. Overall mortality of HLH is greater than 50% and the majority of patients who die do so within the first 8 weeks of chemotherapy treatment. To find clinical parameters relating to high-risk HLH patients, this study examined associations between an early fatal outcome and potential prognostic clinical factors and laboratory findings on admission. Eighty-nine pediatric HLH patients were prospectively recruited in Children's Hospital No. 1, Ho-Chi-Minh City, Vietnam, during the period from January 2010 to August 2012. Associations between early fatal outcome and clinical and laboratory findings, including a cerebrospinal fluid examination and virological test on admission, were examined. During the 8-week therapy, 25 (28%) HLH patients died. Persistent fever (>2 weeks), severe thrombocytopenia (<75 × 10(9)/L), hyperbilirubinemia, and prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) (>33 sec) were significant risk factors of early fatal outcome. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that thrombocytopenia and prolonged APTT (P for trend was 0.054 and 0.013, respectively) were independently associated with the early fatal outcome. Persistent fever, severe thrombocytopenia, hyperbilirubinemia, and prolonged APTT on admission will be useful and practical predictors to determine high-risk HLH patients.

Prognostic implication of activated partial thromboplastin time after reteplase or half-dose reteplase plus abciximab: results from the GUSTO-V trial.

AIMS: To evaluate the relationship between activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and clinical outcomes in the Global Use of Strategies to Open Occluded Coronary Arteries (GUSTO-V) trial comparing standard-dose reteplase to half-dose reteplase and abciximab. METHODS AND RESULTS: We analysed data on 11,420 patients receiving unfractionated heparin. Peak aPTT levels recorded during the hospitalization were correlated with clinical outcomes. Multivariable logistic regression models examined the relationship between peak aPTT levels and (i) moderate-to-severe bleeding, (ii) intracerebral haemorrhage, (iii) reinfarction, and (iv) 30-day mortality. Non-linear relationships were explored in the models using cubic spline functions. Higher rates of significant complications were seen in both groups when aPTT levels were <50 s or when levels were >70 s. In the combination therapy group, the relationship between aPTT levels and bleeding appeared accentuated. Reinfarction rates increased gradually as aPTT levels were >70 s in both groups, but the relationships were not statistically significant. Peak aPTT levels <50 s were associated with increased 30-day mortality even after multivariable adjustment. CONCLUSION: Peak aPTT levels <50 s and >70 s are associated with worse clinical outcomes in the modern era of fibrinolytic therapy; these relationships are different in patients receiving standard reteplase vs. combination therapy.

Protein C levels can be forecasted by global haemostatic tests in critically ill patients and predict long-term survival.

INTRODUCTION: We have shown the usefulness of global haemostatic tests International Normalized Ratio (INR) and Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (APTT) for predicting survival in critically ill patients. Ability to analyse inhibitors protein C and antithrombin is limited to a small number of laboratories and often only during office hours. We therefore studied the usefulness of global haemostatic tests to predict levels of protein C and antithrombin and investigated value of these latter tests in predicting outcome. PATIENTS/METHODS: Blood samples were collected within 6 h of admission to intensive care unit (ICU) and tested regarding platelet count, INR, and APTT. If platelet count was <100x10(9) L(-1), INR >1.36 and/or APTT >45 s, a second sampling was done within 6 h after the first one for analysis of protein C and antithrombin. Ninety-two patients were included; length of stay at ICU and hospital, survival when leaving ICU and hospital and up to 5 years were recorded. RESULTS: Using univariate analysis of variance, INR and APTT separately predicted levels of protein C and to some extent antithrombin. Neither platelet count nor any combinations of global haemostatic tests were predictive. Utilising Cox regression, decreased protein C, but not antithrombin, predicted lower survival rate. CONCLUSIONS: Global haemostatic tests INR and APTT can predict levels of protein C and, though less so, antithrombin. A low protein C level indicated a sinister prognosis in the ICU setting, at the hospital, and after up to 5 years.