Effects of High-Dose Selenium on Mortality of Sepsis and Septic Shock Patients with Severe Selenium Deficiency in Taiwan

Abstract

The relationship between serum selenium levels and mortality was investigated in septic patients with severe selenium deficiency (baseline selenium ≤ 80 ng/mL). Eligible patients of sepsis or septic shock were randomized to receive Placebo or High-Dose Selenium (1,000 μg/day) via intravenous injection. Safety, serum selenium, mortality, SOFA, and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores were monitored. Among all 330 subjects, 27.9% subjects (n=92) had severe selenium deficiency (mean serum selenium = 66.5 ng/mL). Mortality of severe selenium deficiency patients was 27.2%, significantly higher than 17.9% of all subjects. In severe selenium deficiency Placebo group (n=45), 62% subjects showed gradual increase of selenium levels to ~110 ng/mL (mortality ~21.4%), while 38% subjects remained at low selenium ≤ 110 ng/mL throughout study (mortality ~41.2%). Mortality for Placebo subjects with normal baseline selenium ≥ 110 ng/mL was 13.6%. With High-Dose Selenium treatment, 91% of severe selenium deficiency subjects showed quick selenium increase to ~110 ng/mL (mortality 25.5%). Mortality was reduced to 8.6% for High-Dose Selenium subjects with baseline selenium ≥ 110 ng/mL. The odds ratio showed significantly greater survival of High-Dose Selenium subjects with baseline selenium ≥ 110 ng/mL (91.4%) than severe selenium deficiency Placebo subjects (74.1%). Mean baseline SOFA scores for severe selenium deficiency patients were 9.1–9.4, decrease of SOFA scores in High-Dose Selenium subjects was significantly greater than Placebo subjects, along with significant improvement of GCS scores. Repeated infusion of High-Dose Selenium in severe selenium deficiency patients for 14 days was safe and well-tolerated. Mortality for patients with sepsis was clearly affected by serum selenium concentrations. High mortality (41–50%) was observed in the sepsis patients constantly with low selenium £ 80 ng/mL; mortality was reduced to 21–23% if their serum selenium could be increased to ≥ 110 ng/mL. High-Dose Selenium resulted in rapid restoration of serum selenium and improved the survival of severe selenium deficiency septic patients. Low mortality (9–14%) was observed in the sepsis patients starting with baseline selenium ≥ 110 ng/mL. Overall this study demonstrates the significant impact of insufficient selenium levels on the mortality of septic patients. Treatment with high-dose selenium reduced the mortality of severe selenium deficiency septic subjects.