Inhibition of proteinases with recombinant eglin C during experimental Escherichia coli septicemia in the pig

Administration of the proteinase inhibitor eglin C reduces the symptoms of capillary leakage in a porcine model of septic shock. This was assessed by measurements of blood pressure, plasma protein concentration, hematocrit, and duration of urine production. Eglin C plasma levels around 1.2 μM resulted from a dose of 1.9 mg·kg^-1·h^-1 for 4 h and were therapeutically effective. A higher dose of eglin C(7.7 mg·kg^-1·h^-1 for 4 h) induced levels of approximately 5.6 μM in plasma and was not superior. This observation indicates that lysosomal proteases from neutrophils or degranulation of mast cells play a crucial role in the increase of capillary permeability during septicemia.