Participation and interactions of neutrophil elastase in haemostatic disorders of patients with severe infections.

The prognosis of septicaemia depends on the occurrence of complications such as shock and coagulation defects. The damage to haemostasis is usually explained by the action of the main coagulation and fibrinolysis enzymes, thrombin and plasmin. This paper presents data concerning the role of a third protease, granulocytic elastase. 82 patients who had been admitted to our hospital with suspected septicaemia were examined. Septicaemia was proven in 22 patients by the growth of microorganisms in blood cultures, and was clinically diagnosed in 9 patients. The plasma levels of neutrophil elastase-like protease complexed to a1antitrypsin (a1AT-ELP) were measured by zone immunoelectrophoresis assay (ZIA). The a1AT-ELP values were significantly increased in the 31 septic as compared to the 51 non-septic patients. In patients with complicated septicaemia, negative correlations of a1AT-ELP with factor XIII and the coagulation inhibitor antithrombin III were demonstrable. Among the patients with septic complications, the 3 who survived exhibited a dramatic decrease of a1AT-ELP, whereas in the other 16 patients who died the levels remained elevated. It might be of therapeutic significance that in 9 patients receiving fresh plasma and AT III-concentrate substitution for DIC the a1AT-ELP levels dropped, whereas they remained high in the other septicaemia patients. There were no correlations between a1AT-ELP and the a2antiplasmin-plasmin complexes (a2AP-P1), but strong correlations with signs of coagulation. The data suggest an interaction of coagulation and elastase release, probably involving the Hageman factor.