Table 3

Effect of non-specific therapy on coagulation and fibrinolysis

Plasma infusion

Plasma exchange


Restores procoagulant factors

Restores procoagulant factor homeostasis

Restores anticoagulant factors (protein C, antithrombin III, TFPI)

Restores anticoagulant factor homeostasis (protein C, antithrombin III, TFPI)

Restores prostacyclin

Restores prostacyclin homeostasis

Restores tPA

Restores tPA homeostasis

Restores ADAMTS 13

Restores ADAMTS 13 homeostasis

Removes ADAMTS 13 inhibitors

Removes ultra-large vWF multimers

Removes tissue factor

Removes excess PAI-1


PAI, plasminogen activator inhibitor type I; TFPI, tissue factor pathway inhibitor; tPA, tissue plasminogen activator; vWF, von Willebrand factor.

Nguyen and Carcillo Critical Care 2006 10:235   doi:10.1186/cc5064