03 ��g/kg/minute). selleck Vandetanib Overall the Wilcoxon test showed a significant reduction in the noradrenaline dose (median from 0.06 to 0.035 ��g/kg/minute; P = 0.016; Table Table2)2) while the mean arterial pressure was stable during the bioreactor-treatment (median before 74, after 80 mmHg; not significant). Systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI) was not monitored in this study.Table 2Main laboratory parameters before and after the extracorporeal treatments.Coagulation disordersThere was no significant change in mean platelet counts during the extracorporeal treatment (Table (Table2).2). D-dimers did increase significantly during the extracorporeal treatment from 752 �� 505 ��g/l to 853 �� 450 ��g/l but returned to 609 �� 381 ��/l within 12 hours.

Antithrombin III concentration also changed significantly from 66 �� 17% at the beginning to 58 �� 15% at the end of the treatments, and improved slightly over the following 12 h to 61 �� 15%. Both activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and prothrombin time (as International Normalized Ratio, INR) increased during the treatments due to heparin use but returned to pre-treatment values within 12 h after the extracorporeal circulation. No hemorrhages were observed.HemolysisNo signs of hemolysis were observed. Haptoglobin remained within the normal range and no significant change in lactate dehydrogenase was seen during the treatments.Moreover, no allergic reactions were recognized.Secondary endpoints (safety and efficacy): comparison of projected and observed mortalityExpected in-hospital mortality based on the ICU entrance APACHE II (29.

9 �� 7.2) and SAPS II (66.2 �� 19.5) scores were 69.1% and 71.5%, respectively [18-20]. The observed mortality rate was 3 out of 10 within 28 days (on days 6, 9, and 18), and four during hospital stay (Patient 7 died on Day 40). Six patients could be discharged from the hospital in stable condition. No significant differences were seen between the survivors and non-survivors in the time at ICU before inclusion or the time between inclusion and first treatment.Organ functions, vital signs and laboratory parametersThe body temperature of the patients was stable during the treatments (Table (Table2).2). While creatinine did not show a significant change during the six-hour treatments there were small but significant increases in urea (Table (Table2),2), most probably due to interruption of dialysis in patients with renal failure. However, urea decreased again slightly within 12 h post treatment to 14.7 �� 8.4 mmol/l. No difference in PaO2 and FiO2 has been observed between start and end of the extracorporeal treatment (Table (Table2).2). Furthermore, no significant changes have Drug_discovery been seen in PaO2 or FiO2 between the treatment day and the day after the treatment.