Semin Thromb Hemost 2008; 34(5): 475-484
DOI: 10.1055/s-0028-1092878
© Thieme Medical Publishers

The Role of Bronchoalveolar Hemostasis in the Pathogenesis of Acute Lung Injury

Jorrit–Jan H. Hofstra1 , 2 , Jack J. Haitsma5 , Nicole P. Juffermans1 , 2 , Marcel Levi3 , Marcus J. Schultz1 , 2 , 4
  • 1Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  • 2Laboratory of Experimental Intensive Care and Anesthesiology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  • 3Department of Internal Medicine, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  • 4HERMES Critical Care Group, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  • 5Interdepartmental Division of Critical Care, St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Weitere Informationen

Publikationsverlauf

Publikationsdatum:
27. Oktober 2008 (online)

Preview

ABSTRACT

Disturbed alveolar fibrin turnover is intrinsic to acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ALI/ARDS) and pneumonia and is important to its pathogenesis. Recent studies also suggest disturbed alveolar fibrin turnover to be a feature of ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI). The mechanisms that contribute to alveolar coagulopathy are localized tissue factor–mediated thrombin generation, impaired activity of natural coagulation inhibitors, and depression of bronchoalveolar urokinase plasminogen activator–mediated fibrinolysis, caused by the increase of plasminogen activator inhibitors. Administration of anticoagulant agents (including activated protein C, antithrombin, tissue factor–factor VIIa pathway inhibitors, and heparin) and profibrinolytic agents (including plasminogen activators) attenuate pulmonary coagulopathy. Several preclinical studies show additional anti-inflammatory effects of these therapies in ALI/ARDS and pneumonia. In this article, we review the involvement of coagulation and fibrinolysis in the pathogenesis of ALI/ARDS pneumonia and VILI and the potential of anticoagulant and profibrinolytic strategies to reverse pulmonary coagulopathy and pulmonary inflammatory responses.

REFERENCES

Jorrit–Jan H HofstraM.D. 

Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Academic Medical Center

University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands

eMail: j.j.hofstra@amc.uva.nl