A method for obtaining protein C (PrC) activator from Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix venom, based on ion exchange chromatography, has been developed specificity and sensitivity of a reagent based on ellagic acid and soybean phosphatides to disorders in PrC system has been studied. A simple and convenient screening test for analysis of PrC system has been developed.

Brain cephaline-based reagents for evaluating activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and soybean phosphatides with ellagic acid complex activator with intermediate metal ions have been studied. The sensitivity of these reagents to internal clotting factors (VIII and IX) and heparin is determined by phospholipid nature and type of metal. The results help obtain highly active and sensitive APTT reagents.

A prospective study of 20 patients with hemoblastosis and septic shock (SS) was carried out by invasive monitoring of the central hemodynamics and oxygen transport, evaluation of biochemical and coagulological parameters, and assessment of the severity of clinical condition by the APACHE II and SOFA scores. Septic shock was effectively treated in 12 patients, 5 of them were discharged from the department (group 1) and 7 died in intensive care wards from various complications (group 2). Eight patients died during the first 2 days from SS resistant to therapy (group 3). Group 2 patients were in need of a longer inotropic support than group 1 patients (5.8 +/- 1.6 vs. 2.7 +/- 0.8 days, p < 0.01). The deficit of bases was more expressed in groups 2 and 3 in comparison with group 1 (-11.3 +/- 3 and -2.7 +/- 9.1 mmol/liter vs. 1.4 +/- 4.4 mmol/liter) and left ventricular stroke index (LVSI) and oxygen delivery were lower. LVSI and base deficit were in linear correlation (rho = 0.4, p < 0.05). XIIa-dependent fibrinolysis was suppressed in all patients, which was more pronounced in group 3 in comparison with groups 1 and 2 (135 +/- 47.4 vs. 103 +/- 27 and 88.3 +/- 42.3). According to SOFA score, the severity of cardiovascular disorders during day 1 of SS was the same in all groups, while starting from day 2 it decreased in patients who survived. Acute respiratory failure was lower in group 1 only on day 1 according to SOFA. More pronounced (according to SOFA) hepatorenal failure was observed in group 2 in comparison with other patients. Organ involvement in hemoblastosis was detected at autopsy in 8 out of 13 cases. Hence, the need in prolonged cardiovascular support of SS patients is associated with development of polyorgan involvement. Fibrinolysis suppression is a frequent early manifestation of hemostasis disorders. Specific neoplastic organ involvement was observed in 61.5% patients with hemoblastosis who died from SS and its complications.

Twenty-two patients with hemoblastosis were examined in order to evaluate the possibility of using the criteria of the total system's inflammatory response syndrome (TSIRS) for the diagnosis of sepsis in hemoblastosis patients with leukopenia. The patients were examined before and after chemotherapy. Twelve patients with myelotoxic leukopenia developed TSIRS in response to a concomitant infection. No intensive care and resuscitation were needed in 9 of them; antibiotic therapy rapidly improved the clinical status. Three of these patients had to be transferred to intensive care wards. These patients differed from patients with TSIRS who needed no intensive care and from patients without TSIRS by higher fever (39.6 +/- 0.9, 39.1 +/- 0.4, and 36.5 +/- 0.7 degrees C, respectively), tachycardia (114.1 +/- 19.1, 105.3 +/- 12.8, and 84.0 +/- 10.0 stroke/min, respectively), thrombocytopenia (35.4 +/- 33.2.10(9), 55.1 +/- 34.5.10(9), and 89.2 +/- 95.1.10(9)/liter, respectively), prolongation of XIIa-dependent fibrinolysis (161.0 +/- 67.5. 64.7 +/- 57.0, and 46.2 +/- 45.8 min, respectively), decreased content of antithrombin III (79.6 +/- 8.1, 102.0 +/- 16.2, and 98.9 +/- 11.9%, respectively), and a more grave status according to the APACHEII score (20.4 +/- 5.2, 15 +/- 2.0, and 10.8 +/- 3.2, respectively). The APACHEII score and XIIa-dependent fibrinolysis were in direct correlation. We consider that the TSIRS/sepsis criteria are highly sensitive but not specific. They just permit singling out the group of patients part of whom may have sepsis.