Inhibition of proteinases with recombinant eglin C during experimental Escherichia coli septicemia in the pig.

Administration of the proteinase inhibitor eglin C reduces the symptoms of capillary leakage in a porcine model of septic shock. This was assessed by measurements of blood pressure, plasma protein concentration, hematocrit, and duration of urine production. Eglin C plasma levels around 1.2 microM resulted from a dose of 1.9 mg.kg-1.h-1 for 4 h and were therapeutically effective. A higher dose of eglin C (7.7 mg.kg-1.h-1 for 4 h) induced levels of approximately 5.6 microM in plasma and was not superior. This observation indicates that lysosomal proteases from neutrophils or degranulation of mast cells play a crucial role in the increase of capillary permeability during septicemia.