ABSTRACT
Severe sepsis is a common life-threatening disease commonly associated with systemic inflammation and altered coagulation processes. Drotrecogin alfa (activated), (Xigris(R)) is a novel drug which has both anti-inflammatory and anticoagulant properties and was approved in 2001 for the reduction in mortality in patients with severe sepsis at a high risk of death. It is currently unclear which subset of patients with severe sepsis is most likely to benefit from this therapy; however, the most severely ill patient with multiple organ dysfunction appear to gain the most benefit.