Lerche CJ, Christophersen LJ, Goetze JP, Nielsen PR, Thomsen K, Enevold C, Høiby N, Jensen PØ, Bundgaard H, Moser C. Adjunctive dabigatran therapy improves outcome of experimental left-sided Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis.
PLoS One 2019;
14:e0215333. [PMID:
31002679 PMCID:
PMC6474597 DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0215333]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2019] [Accepted: 03/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background
Staphylococcus aureus is the most frequent and fatal cause of left-sided infective endocarditis (IE). New treatment strategies are needed to improve the outcome. S. aureus coagulase promotes clot and fibrin formation. We hypothesized that dabigatran, could reduce valve vegetations and inflammation in S. aureus IE.
Methods
We used a rat model of severe aortic valve S. aureus IE. All infected animals were randomized to receive adjunctive dabigatran (10 mg/kg b.i.d., n = 12) or saline (controls, n = 11) in combination with gentamicin. Valve vegetation size, bacterial load, cytokine, cell integrins expression and peripheral platelets and neutrophils were assessed 3 days post-infection.
Results
Adjunctive dabigatran treatment significantly reduced valve vegetation size compared to controls (p< 0.0001). A significant reduction of the bacterial load in aortic valves was seen in dabigatran group compared to controls (p = 0.02), as well as expression of key pro-inflammatory markers keratinocyte-derived chemokine, IL-6, ICAM-1, TIMP-1, L-selectin (p< 0.04). Moreover, the dabigatran group had a 2.5-fold increase of circulating platelets compared to controls and a higher expression of functional and activated platelets (CD62p+) unbound to neutrophils.
Conclusion
Adjunctive dabigatran reduced the vegetation size, bacterial load, and inflammation in experimental S. aureus IE.
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