Effects of nebulized antithrombin and heparin on inflammatory disorders

• February 18, 2020
• Guillem Cebrian
• No Comments

Last November, 2019, Dr. and Drs. Camprubí, Tantinyà, Guillamat, Bringué, Puig, Gómez, Blanch and Artigas, of the Parc Taulí Research and Innovation Institute (I3PT) of Sabadell, published a scientific article who was collecting his research on acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Next we talk to Dr. Marta Camprubí, who will tell us what the study has been and what the future prospects it hints at.

The antecedent of this study is the treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome. What is the most affected population segment?

(Marta Camprubí). The incidence of this syndrome is difficult to predict due to demographic, cultural, genetic, economic, and health system differences. In Europe the incidence is 17 cases per 9 inhabitants per year, and in Spain 100.000 cases per 7 inhabitants per year. Although it can occur in patients of all ages, it is linked to elderly patients with a variability of clinical disorders. The most common causes of acute respiratory distress syndrome are pneumonia (2-100.000%), sepsis (35%), aspiration of gastric contents (50%), or trauma (30%).

For practical purposes: What did this study consist of?

(MC) The study consisted of determining whether the direct administration of anticoagulants to the lung, through its nebulization, produces beneficial effects by reducing the excess coagulation and inflammation that occurs in the syndrome without producing systemic hemorrhage.

What have been the results?

(MC) The results show that both antithrombin and heparin reduce lung injury by decreasing coagulation and inflammation without producing alterations in systemic coagulation or hemorrhage.

Knowing the results, what would be the next step?

(MC) The the next step would be to determine if the effects of anticoagulants are sustained over time and if more doses can be enhanced. We also want to determine what mechanisms act by observing their effects specifically on different cell types such as alveolar macrophages or epithelial alveolar cells.

(at this point Dr. Artigas adds):

(AA) Once the additional missing studies regarding the duration of treatment and its effects on different cellular elements have been completed, a clinical study should be considered.