Antithrombin in sepsis revisited

As the pivotal phase III randomized controlled clinical trial on antithrombin concentrate in patients with severe sepsis did not show a beneficial effect of antithrombin treatment on 28-day mortality, the interest in the potential use of this treatment modality in sepsis has diminished. However, recent data on the effect of antithrombin administration on coagulation in combination with recent analyses from the clinical trials that were aimed to restore physiological anticoagulant pathways in patients with sepsis may revitalize the interest in antithrombin concentrate for the treatment of severe sepsis.