The roles of activated protein C in experimental trauma models

Trauma-induced coagulopathy is classified into primary and secondary coagulopathy, with the former elicited by trauma and traumatic shock itself and the latter being acquired coagulopathy induced by anemia, hypothermia, acidosis, and dilution. Primary coagulopathy consists of disseminated intravascular coagulation and acute coagulopathy of trauma shock (ACOTS). The pathophysiology of ACOTS is the suppression of thrombin generation and neutralization of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 mediated by activated protein C that leads to hypocoagulation and hyperfibrinolysis in the circulation. This review tried to clarify the validity of activated protein C hypothesis that constitutes the main pathophysiology of the ACOTS in experimental trauma models.