Recent application of metabolomics in the diagnosis, pathogenesis, treatment, and prognosis of sepsis

Abstract

Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by dysregulated host response to infections. It is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients. Patients with sepsis often require care in the intensive care unit (ICU) which is costly to the patients and their families. Sepsis has no specific clinical manifestations, and its pathophysiological mechanism is complex. The disease progresses rapidly which makes early diagnosis difficult. Severe forms of the disease, such as septic shock, may lead to organ dysfunction, organ failure, and death. As an emerging “-omics” technology, metabolomics has revolutionized the clinical and research landscape of sepsis. Metabolomics has been applied in the prognosis, diagnosis, and risk stratification in patients with sepsis. This technology provides details on the metabolites and biochemical pathways commonly associated with the pathophysiology of sepsis. At present, it is mostly used to identify metabolites in various diseases. Using this technology, metabolites in body fluids such as blood and urine are detected and analyzed in relation to disease progresssion. The technology therefore helps to understand the pathogenesis of diseases and promote early diagnosis and treatment of the disease. So far, the applicaition of metabolomics in patients with sepsis has not been well defined. This article briefly reviews the application of metabolomics technology in patients with sepsis in recent years, to generate ideas for improving rapid diagnosis and prognosis evaluation of patients with sepsis.