Summary
Rats which were infected with the gramnegative pathogen Klebsiella pneumoniae develop disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), multi-organ failure (MOF) and
finally die in a septic shock. We investigated the therapeutic effect of antibiotic
(tobramycin) treatment combined with the infusion of the highly specific thrombin
inhibitor rec. hirudin. Although administration of 2 mg/kg tobramycin alone leads
to a decrease of the bacterial burden, DIC could not be prevented. Infusion of rec.
hirudin (0.25 mg/kg x h) for 4 h (start of treatment 1 h post infection), in addition
to a bolus administration of tobramycin, led to an amelioration of DIC parameters
as fibrinogen, thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT) and platelets. Serum transaminase
levels (GOT, GPT) as a marker of MOF were significantly improved by rec. hirudin,
the T50 value increased from 17 h in the tobramycin group to 42 h in the tobramycin + rec.
hirudin giuup, muilality rates were 90% or 60%, respectively. Combination of heparin
(10011/kg x h) and tobramycin was not effective on survival.
