[Thrombin generation in critical illnesses].

Hemostasis is an important component of host defense and wound healing. During the last few decades, the interaction between hemostasis and inflammation has moved into the center of research. Thrombin, which is considered the central enzyme of the hemostatic system, plays a key role in these investigations. Immune modulatory treatment strategies, such as the supraphysiological doses of antithrombin and activated protein C in sepsis, were based on scientific investigations of thrombin generation and its role in inflammatory reactions. However, the complex function of thrombin has not yet been fully elucidated.