Malnutrition induces a decrease in immunity that affects the ability of the organism to deal with an infectious challenge. The clotting system is considered a branch of immunity and its activation is important in the pathogenesis of an
infectious disease. This work was conducted to determine coagulation modifications in malnourished hosts before and during
infection. Weaned mice were malnourished via a
protein-free diet. Well-nourished control mice (WNC) consumed a balanced conventional diet. Malnourished mice (MN) and WNC were challenged intranasally with Streptococcus pneumoniae. Blood, bronchoalveolar lavages (BAL), and lung samples were taken at different times post
infection. The results were that MN showed altered
hemostatic tests and
fibrin(
ogen) deposits in the lung. Thus, an increase in
thrombin-
antithrombin complexes (TATc) in plasma and BAL was observed. In the MN group,
infection induced a rise in TATc in plasma and BAL and increased plasma
fibrinogen and
fibrin(
ogen) deposits in the lung. A decrease in activated
protein C and
antithrombin in BAL and an early decrease followed by an increase in plasma
Factor VIII were also observed. Thus,
malnourishment induced a procoagulant state increased by
infection. This is the first work that presents results of an exhaustive study of coagulation in malnourished hosts before and during an
infection.