This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow E-mail this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowReprints and Permissions
Right arrow Copyright Information
Right arrow Books from ASM Press
Right arrow MicrobeWorld
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Bryant, A. E.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Bryant, A. E.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Clinical Microbiology Reviews, July 2003, p. 451-462, Vol. 16, No. 3
0893-8512/03/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/CMR.16.3.451-462.2003

Biology and Pathogenesis of Thrombosis and Procoagulant Activity in Invasive Infections Caused by Group A Streptococci and Clostridium perfringens

Amy E. Bryant*

Infectious Diseases Section, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Boise, and Department of Microbiology, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho

Group A streptococcal necrotizing fasciitis/myonecrosis and Clostridium perfringens gas gangrene are two of the most fulminant gram-positive infections in humans. Tissue destruction associated with these infections progresses rapidly to involve an entire extremity. Multiple-organ failure is common, and morbidity and mortality remain high. Systemic activation of coagulation and dysregulation of the anticoagulation pathways contribute to the pathogenesis of many diverse disease entities of infectious etiology, and it has been our hypothesis that microvascular thrombosis contributes to reduced tissue perfusion, hypoxia, and subsequent regional tissue necrosis and organ failure in these invasive gram-positive infections. This article reviews the coagulation, anticoagulation, and fibrinolytic systems from cellular players to cytokines to novel antithrombotic therapies and discusses the mechanisms contributing to occlusive microvascular thrombosis and tissue destruction in invasive group A streptococcal and C. perfringens infections. A thorough understanding of these mechanisms may suggest novel therapeutic targets for patients with these devastating infections.

* Mailing address: Infectious Diseases Section, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 500 West Fort St. (Bldg 45), Boise, ID 83702. Phone: (208) 422-1599. Fax: (208) 422-1365. E-mail: abryant{at}mindspring.com.

Clinical Microbiology Reviews, July 2003, p. 451-462, Vol. 16, No. 3
0893-8512/03/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/CMR.16.3.451-462.2003
Copyright © 2003, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Rattansingh, A., Adamson, B., Cosgrove, D. (2009). Bidirectional Flow Within the Intratesticular Arteries Caused by Microvenous Thrombosis Secondary to Testicular Torsion. J Ultrasound Med 28: 817-821 [Full Text]  
  • Oeckler, R. A., Hubmayr, R. D. (2007). Ventilator-associated lung injury: a search for better therapeutic targets. Eur Respir J 30: 1216-1226 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Kapoor, J. R., Monteiro, B., Tanoue, L., Siegel, M. D. (2007). Massive Intravascular Hemolysis and a Rapidly Fatal Outcome. Chest 132: 2016-2019 [Full Text]  
  • Rooney, A. P., Swezey, J. L., Friedman, R., Hecht, D. W., Maddox, C. W. (2006). Analysis of Core Housekeeping and Virulence Genes Reveals Cryptic Lineages of Clostridium perfringens That Are Associated With Distinct Disease Presentations. Genetics 172: 2081-2092 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Khorana, A. A., Francis, C. W., Culakova, E., Fisher, R. I., Kuderer, N. M., Lyman, G. H. (2006). Thromboembolism in Hospitalized Neutropenic Cancer Patients. JCO 24: 484-490 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Kanuck, D. M., Zgonis, T., Jolly, G. P. (2006). Necrotizing Fasciitis in a Patient with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. J. Am. Podiatr. Med. Assoc. 96: 67-72 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Chang, A. K., Kim, H. Y., Park, J. E., Acharya, P., Park, I.-S., Yoon, S. M., You, H. J., Hahm, K.-S., Park, J. K., Lee, J. S. (2005). Vibrio vulnificus Secretes a Broad-Specificity Metalloprotease Capable of Interfering with Blood Homeostasis through Prothrombin Activation and Fibrinolysis. J. Bacteriol. 187: 6909-6916 [Abstract] [Full Text]  


Copyright © 2010 by the American Society for Microbiology.   For an alternate route to Journals.ASM.org, visit: http://intl-journals.asm.org | More Info»