Protein C concentrations in severe sepsis: an early directional change in plasma levels predicts outcome

Table 1 Baseline characteristics and 28-day mortality of PROWESS patients by baseline protein C level and treatment group

Parameter	Baseline protein C ≤ 40% of normal		Baseline protein C 41–80% of normal		Baseline protein C >80% of normal
	Placebo (n = 285)	DrotAA (n = 330)	Placebo (n = 385)	DrotAA (n = 379)	Placebo (n = 105)	DrotAA (n = 90)
APACHE II score*	26.1 ± 8.1	25.6 ± 7.7	24.3 ± 7.8	23.9 ± 7.5	23.9 ± 7.3	23.8 ± 6.7
Age (years)	61.4 ± 16.9	60.9 ± 17.1	60.0 ± 16.7	59.9 ± 17.8	61.9 ± 14.6	61.4 ± 16.4
Log IL-6*	7.4 ± 2.1	7.5 ± 2.2	6.1 ± 2.0	6.2 ± 2.0	4.7 ± 1.8	4.7 ± 1.7
Urosepsis (%)	9.8	10.3	12.2	8.7	3.8	14.4
Comorbidites^a (%)**	16.5	15.5	20.0	19.8	35.2	34.4
Dependencies^b (%)**	25.3	21.8	29.6	29.3	38.1	33.3
Septic shock (%)**	76.8	80.6	72.2	66.0	59.0	55.6
28-day mortality (%)	41.8	27.6	24.9	24.0	26.7	15.6

DrotAA, drotrecogin alfa (activated). Patients were prospectively categorized on the basis of their baseline protein C activity levels (normal, >80%; deficient, 41–80% of normal; and severely deficient, ≤ 40% of normal). ^aAny chronic health points from the (APACHE) II classification system. ^bPatient considered dependent if they were dependent in one or more activities on the Activities of Daily Living scale [16]. *Significantly different between protein C classes (P < 0.05) using Spearman rank-correlation with baseline protein C levels. **Significant (P < 0.05) association with baseline protein C levels using Wilcoxon rank-sum tests comparing the "yes" versus "no" classifications

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