Fulminant Meningococcemia: Heparin Therapy and Survival Rate

Abstract

During the 27-month period from January 1968 to March 1970 402 cases of meningococcal infection were admitted to the Pediatric Clinic of the Infectious Diseases Hospital of Thessaloniki. 25 patients (6.2%) had the characteristics of fulminant meningococcemia. A significant increase in the incidence of the fulminant form of the disease from 2.3% in 1968 to 8.8% in 1969 and 9.7% in the first trimester of 1970 was observed. The increased incidence coincided with predominance of meningococcal strains belonging to serotype B. In spite of a significant male preponderance in meningococcal infection the incidence of fulminant meningococcemia in our series was higher among females. 10 of the 25 patients with fulminant meningococcemia died (40%). Death was due to irreversible shock in all cases. A group of 12 randomly selected patients was treated with heparin; the remaining 13 patients served as controls. No significant difference in survival rate between the two groups was observed. Therapeutic methods in order to improve the prognosis of fulminant meningococcemia are discussed.