[Microcirculation and hemostasis in inflammatory processes. Modulation by administration of physiologic protease inhibitors as a therapeutic approach].

BACKGROUND: The course of an inflammatory process is based upon complex interactions between the vessel wall and the humoral or cellular compounds of the vascular content as a consequence of a defense reaction. There are no substantial differences between the pathophysiology of local or of whole body inflammation on the molecular and cellular level. Sepsis, which is clinically regarded as a systemic inflammatory process requires the broad therapeutical spectrum of nowaday intensive care medicine, but still has a high mortality. The pathophysiology and clinical examples for both systemic and local inflammatory reactions are presented in this paper. Thereby, similar interactions between the vascular endothelium, the mediator systems to which the hemostatic system has to be considered as a part of, and the microcirculation remain in the foreground at first. Based on that, the use of polyvalent protease inhibitors in the therapy of local or systemic inflammatory reactions of different origin will be discussed. The spotlight falls on physiological inhibitors of the hemostatic and complement system, antithrombin III and C1-esterase inhibitor, which may have a regulatory function within these systems because of their multiple targets.
CONCLUSION: The possibility of an adjuvant therapy of local or generalized inflammatory processes with physiologic protease inhibitors seems to be very promising. Nevertheless, at yet the substantial mechanisms of action are not fully understood.