We have studied the activation state of the fibrinolytic system in 39 patients with systemic
meningococcal disease (SMD). Patients defined as having fulminant
septicemia (n = 13) with high (greater than 700 ng/L) levels of
endotoxin (LPS) in plasma and severe coagulopathy, had significantly lower functional levels of
plasminogen (P less than 0.05) and
alpha-2-antiplasmin (P less than 0.01) and higher
antigen levels of
plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) (P less than 0.01), and
fibrin degradation products (
FDP) (P less than 0.01), but not of
PAI-2 (P greater than 0.1) as compared with less severely ill patients (
meningitis and meningococcemia) (n = 25). A positive correlation existed between the admission (maximum) levels of LPS and
PAI-1 (r = 0.86, P less than 0.0001). Decreasing admission levels of platelets were associated with increasing levels of
PAI-1 (r = -0.55, P less than 0.001). After initiation of treatment with
antibiotics and fresh frozen plasma, the
PAI-1 levels declined rapidly.
PAI-1 levels greater than 360 micrograms/L on admission predicted the development of a severe
septic shock combined with renal impairment correctly in 12 of 13 patients (92%). None of 25 patients without
multiple organ failure had
PAI-1 levels greater than 260 micrograms/L.
PAI-1 levels greater than 1850 micrograms/L were associated with 100% fatality. The results suggest that in the early phase of fulminant
meningococcal septicemia an extensive
plasmin generation occurs. On admission, however, high levels of
PAI-1 seem to inhibit the
plasmin generation, and thereby promote
DIC.