05-22-2010, 07:46 AM
A 24-year-old woman is admitted to the hospital because of a temperature of 40°C (104°F), generalized rash, and altered mental status. On admission, her platelet count, prothrombin time (PT), and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) are within the reference ranges. During the next 24 hours, her blood and cerebrospinal fluid cultures grow Neisseria meningitidis. Despite therapy, she becomes comatose and begins bleeding from all venipuncture sites and from mucous membranes. Her PT and aPTT are now markedly prolonged, and platelet count is less than 20,000/mm3. Which of the following plasma values is most likely to be increased in this patient?
A ) Activated protein C
B ) D-dimer
C ) Factor VII (proconvertin)
D ) Fibrinogen
E ) Plasminogen
A ) Activated protein C
B ) D-dimer
C ) Factor VII (proconvertin)
D ) Fibrinogen
E ) Plasminogen