Is tri-iodothyronine a better choice than activated protein C in sepsis treatment?

Background: Sepsis can be defined as a life-threatening organ dysfunction due to a dysregulated host response to infection. In sepsis, the coagulation cascade is activated and the balance shifts to the procoagulant side. Recently, the use of protein C is proposed for the treatment of sepsis. Another therapeutic agent that has been intensively studied is tri-iodothyronine.

Methods: This study aimed to compare the effects of activated protein C and tri-iodothyronine, which are administered at a single dose to sepsis-induced rats at the late phase. Leukocyte, platelet, hemoglobin and antithrombin-III concentrations and histopathological changes in the small intestine, liver and lung were evaluated at 24 hours.

Results: Single-dose intraperitoneal recombinant human APC (activated protein C) has a partial curative effect on hematological parameters in the late phase, while it is possible to state that it has significant therapeutic effects on hepatic and intestinal tissues, but more remarkably on the lung tissue. Tri-iodothyronine is also considered to be used for the treatment and has a strong potential to be a therapeutic agent.

Conclusion: We observed that the T3 hormone has significantly limited and reduced the sepsis-related damage to hepatic and intestinal tissues, but especially the lung tissue. Tri-iodothyronine can be a good alternative to APC, which is partially allowed due to high cost and complication of bleeding in the treatment of sepsis.