Tissue factor pathway inhibitor response does not correlate with tissue factor-induced disseminated intravascular coagulation and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome in trauma patients

Objective: To determine the precise relationship between tissue factor and tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) after trauma, as well as to test the hypothesis that low TFPI levels are not sufficient to prevent tissue factor-dependent intravascular coagulation, leading to multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS). Design: Prospective, observational cohort study. Setting: Emergency room and intensive care unit in a university hospital. Patients: Thirty-three trauma patients, 18 with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIG) and 15 without DIG were studied. Ten normal, healthy volunteers served as control subjects. Interventions: None. Measurements and Main Results: Antigen concentration of tissue factor and TFPI, and global parameters of coagulation and fibrinolysis:were measured on the day of admission, and on days 1-4 after admission. The number of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) criteria that patients met and the DIG score were determined, simultaneously. The results of these measurements, incidence of MODS, and outcome were compared between the DIG patients and those without Die. In the Die patients, significantly higher tissue factor levels (p = .0049) and lower platelet counts (p = .0016) were found compared with the non-DIG patients and control subjects. However, the TFPI values remained at normal levels during the study period. No correlation was found between the peak levels of tissue factor and TFPI. The mean duration of SIRS and the maximum number of the SIRS criteria being met by the patients in the Die group were statistically longer and higher than those in the non-DIG patients. The incidence of MODS and the number of the dysfunctioning organs were higher in the Die patients compared with those in the non-Die patients, and the DIG patients had a poor outcome. Conclusions: We systematically elucidated the relationship between tissue factor and TFPI in post-trauma patients. Highly activated tissue factor-dependent coagulation pathway is not sufficiently prevented by the normal TFPI levels in patients with DIG. The DIG associated with thrombotic and inflammatory responses causes MODS, and leads to poor outcome in post-trauma patients.