Abstract
Introduction Sepsis is a life-threatening condition, during which triggering of inflammatory and coagulation cascades, together with endothelial damage, invariably leads to activation of platelets. Although platelets are essential components of primary hemostasis, uncontrolled platelet activation during sepsis may contribute to organ failure. The aim of this study was to investigate whether chronic antiplatelet therapy impacts on the presentation and outcome of, and the host response to, sepsis. Methods We performed a prospective observational study in patients admitted with sepsis to the mixed ICUs of two hospitals in the Netherlands between January 2011 and July 2013. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate the effect of antiplatelet therapy on mortality. To account for indication bias, a propensity score was constructed, and used to match antiplatelet therapy users to nonusers. Plasma biomarker levels, providing insight into hallmark host responses to sepsis, including activation of endothelial cells and the cytokine network, were determined during the first 4 days after ICU admission. Results Of 1,070 sepsis patients, 297 (27.8%) were on antiplatelet therapy, including acetylsalicylic acid, clopidogrel and dipyridamole, prior to ICU admission. Antiplatelet users and nonusers differed significantly with regard to several baseline characteristics, such as age, gender and cardiovascular disease. Antiplatelet therapy was not related to sepsis severity at presentation, the primary source of infection, causative pathogens, the development of organ failure or shock during ICU stay, or mortality up to 90 days after admission, in either the unmatched or propensity-matched analyses. Antiplatelet therapy did also not modify plasma concentrations of biomarkers. Conclusion Pre-existing antiplatelet therapy does not influence clinical disease severity at presentation, nor the host response or outcome following sepsis.
Highlights
To assess cerebral hemodynamics in an experimental sepsis model
Healthy bowel function is an important factor when judging the advisability of early enteral nutrition in critically ill patients
Since the Surviving Sepsis Campaign (SSC) in 2002, the Health Service Ombudsman for England published recommendations for improving recognition and treatment of sepsis [2], the Royal College of Physicians issued a toolkit for the management of sepsis in the acute medical unit [3], and NHS England released a patient safety alert to support prompt recognition and treatment of sepsis [4]
Summary
We evaluated platelet activation markers as potential predictive markers of sepsis and of mortality among four commonly encountered populations of patients admitted to ICUs. Methods Ninety-nine non-infected ICU patients were prospectively screened at day 1 (T1) and day 3 (T2) of admission after elective cardiac surgery, trauma, acute neurologic dysfunction or prolonged ventilation (>48 hours). The present study was performed with the aim of assessing whether nursing and physician staff were able to identify patients in need of critical care using only clinical judgment and to compare this with the National Early Warning Score (NEWS) Methods This was a prospective cohort study of all adult patients with a first-time admission to a medical admission unit at a 450-bed regional teaching hospital over a 3-month period in 2010.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
