Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome Parameters Research Articles

Гемостаз та запалення у пацієнтів із політравмою

Актуальність. Причинами смерті при тяжких травмах є як ушкодження, несумісні з життям, так і тяжкі кровотечі. Коагулопатію, асоційовану з травмою, виявляють у 46 % пацієнтів уже на місці події та у 60 % пацієнтів — при надходженні на лікування. Мета: встановити наявність зв’язку між показниками загальної відповіді організму на запалення та показниками судинно-тромбоцитарного і коагуляційного гемостазу у пацієнтів з політравмою. Матеріали та методи. Проведено проспективне обсерваційне дослідження 20 пацієнтів віком від 19 до 55 років з політравмою, які перебували на лікуванні у відділенні анестезіології з ліжками інтенсивної терапії в Комунальному некомерційному підприємстві «8-ма міська клінічна лікарня м. Львова». Пацієнтів оцінювали за Injury Severity Score (ISS) та шкалою APACHE II (Acute Physiology And Chronic Health Evaluation II) з урахуванням тривалості синдрому загальної відповіді організму на запалення і лікування у відділенні інтенсивної терапії (ВІТ) та госпіталізації. Етапи дослідження: надходження на лікування у ВІТ (d1), третя доба (d3), п’ята доба (d5). Основними оцінюваними клінічними маркерами були показники: загальної відповіді організму на запалення, судинно-тромбоцитарного гемостазу (внутрішньосудинна активація тромбоцитів, агрегація тромбоцитів, індукована адреналіном і аденозиндифосфатом), коагуляційного гемостазу (міжнародне нормалізоване відношення, активований частковий тромбопластиновий час, рівень загального фібриногену та D-димерів). Результати. Встановлено наявність вірогідного (p < 0,05) позитивного кореляційного зв’язку між співвідношенням рівнів дискоехіноцитів до сфероехіноцитів та рівнем загального фібриногену на етапі d1, а також тенденцію (p = 0,09) до наявності позитивного кореляційного зв’язку між цим співвідношенням та температурою тіла пацієнта. Виявлено вірогідний (p < 0,05) зворотний кореляційний зв’язок між цим співвідношенням і рівнем тяжкості стану пацієнтів за шкалою APACHE II та прямий вірогідний (p < 0,05) кореляційний зв’язок із тривалістю госпіталізації у ВІТ, а також тенденції до зворотного кореляційного зв’язку з тяжкістю ушкоджень за шкалою ISS (p = 0,07) та до прямого кореляційного внаслідок Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS) (p = 0,12). Висновки. У пацієнтів із політравмою встановлено: наявність вірогідного (p < 0,05) позитивного кореляційного зв’язку між співвідношенням дискоехіноцити/сфероехіноцити та рівнем загального фібриногену; тенденцію (p = 0,09) до позитивного кореляційного зв’язку між цим співвідношенням та температурою тіла пацієнта; вірогідний (p < 0,05) зворотний кореляційний зв’язок з рівнем тяжкості стану пацієнтів за шкалою APACHE II; прямий вірогідний (p < 0,05) кореляційний зв’язок з тривалістю госпіталізації у ВІТ; тенденцію (p = 0,07) до зворотного кореляційного зв’язку з тяжкістю ушкоджень за шкалою ISS та тенденцію (p = 0,12) до прямого кореляційного зв’язку з тривалістю SIRS.

Unpacking Prevalence and Dichotomy in Quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment and Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome Parameters: Observational Data-Driven Approach Backed by Sepsis Pathophysiology.

BackgroundConsidering morbidity, mortality, and annual treatment costs, the dramatic rise in the incidence of sepsis and septic shock among intensive care unit (ICU) admissions in US hospitals is an increasing concern. Recent changes in the sepsis definition (sepsis-3), based on the quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA), have motivated the international medical informatics research community to investigate score recalculation and information retrieval, and to study the intersection between sepsis-3 and the previous definition (sepsis-2) based on systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) parameters.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was three-fold. First, we aimed to unpack the most prevalent criterion for sepsis (for both sepsis-3 and sepsis-2 predictors). Second, we intended to determine the most prevalent sepsis scenario in the ICU among 4 possible scenarios for qSOFA and 11 possible scenarios for SIRS. Third, we investigated the multicollinearity or dichotomy among qSOFA and SIRS predictors.MethodsThis observational study was conducted according to the most recent update of Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC-III, Version 1.4), the critical care database developed by MIT. The qSOFA (sepsis-3) and SIRS (sepsis-2) parameters were analyzed for patients admitted to critical care units from 2001 to 2012 in Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (Boston, MA, USA) to determine the prevalence and underlying relation between these parameters among patients undergoing sepsis screening. We adopted a multiblind Delphi method to seek a rationale for decisions in several stages of the research design regarding handling missing data and outlier values, statistical imputations and biases, and generalizability of the study.ResultsAltered mental status in the Glasgow Coma Scale (59.28%, 38,854/65,545 observations) was the most prevalent sepsis-3 (qSOFA) criterion and the white blood cell count (53.12%, 17,163/32,311 observations) was the most prevalent sepsis-2 (SIRS) criterion confronted in the ICU. In addition, the two-factored sepsis criterion of high respiratory rate (≥22 breaths/minute) and altered mental status (28.19%, among four possible qSOFA scenarios besides no sepsis) was the most prevalent sepsis-3 (qSOFA) scenario, and the three-factored sepsis criterion of tachypnea, high heart rate, and high white blood cell count (12.32%, among 11 possible scenarios besides no sepsis) was the most prevalent sepsis-2 (SIRS) scenario in the ICU. Moreover, the absolute Pearson correlation coefficients were not significant, thereby nullifying the likelihood of any linear correlation among the critical parameters and assuring the lack of multicollinearity between the parameters. Although this further bolsters evidence for their dichotomy, the absence of multicollinearity cannot guarantee that two random variables are statistically independent.ConclusionsQuantifying the prevalence of the qSOFA criteria of sepsis-3 in comparison with the SIRS criteria of sepsis-2, and understanding the underlying dichotomy among these parameters provides significant inferences for sepsis treatment initiatives in the ICU and informing hospital resource allocation. These data-driven results further offer design implications for multiparameter intelligent sepsis prediction in the ICU.

Monocyte distribution width enhances early sepsis detection in the emergency department beyond SIRS and qSOFA

BackgroundThe initial presentation of sepsis in the emergency department (ED) is difficult to distinguish from other acute illnesses based upon similar clinical presentations. A new blood parameter, a measurement of increased monocyte volume distribution width (MDW), may be used in combination with other clinical parameters to improve early sepsis detection. We sought to determine if MDW, when combined with other available clinical parameters at the time of ED presentation, improves the early detection of sepsis.MethodsA retrospective analysis of prospectively collected clinical data available during the initial ED encounter of 2158 adult patients who were enrolled from emergency departments of three major academic centers, of which 385 fulfilled Sepsis-2 criteria, and 243 fulfilled Sepsis-3 criteria within 12 h of admission. Sepsis probabilities were determined based on MDW values, alone or in combination with components of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) or quick sepsis-related organ failure assessment (qSOFA) score obtained during the initial patient presentation (i.e., within 2 h of ED admission).ResultsAbnormal MDW (> 20.0) consistently increased sepsis probability, and normal MDW consistently reduced sepsis probability when used in combination with SIRS criteria (tachycardia, tachypnea, abnormal white blood count, or body temperature) or qSOFA criteria (tachypnea, altered mental status, but not hypotension). Overall, and regardless of other SIRS or qSOFA variables, MDW > 20.0 (vs. MDW ≤ 20.0) at the time of the initial ED encounter was associated with an approximately 6-fold increase in the odds of Sepsis-2, and an approximately 4-fold increase in the odds of Sepsis-3.ConclusionsMDW improves the early detection of sepsis during the initial ED encounter and is complementary to SIRS and qSOFA parameters that are currently used for this purpose. This study supports the incorporation of MDW with other readily available clinical parameters during the initial ED encounter for the early detection of sepsis.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03145428. First posted May 9, 2017. The first subjects were enrolled June 19, 2017, and the study completion date was January 26, 2018.

The predictors of outcome and progression of pediatric sepsis and septic shock: A prospective observational study from western India.

Introduction:There is a paucity of studies on the progression and outcome of Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS) with its determinants.Aims and Objectives:To determine the predictors of the outcome and progression of pediatric sepsis and septic shock.Materials and Methods:Prospective observational study of children fulfilling criteria of SIRS and their progression to sepsis, severe sepsis, and septic shock (clinically and biochemically) was conducted at a tertiary care center.Results:Totally, 200 children were recruited over a period of 21 months (from February 2016 to October 2017). Most cases (80, 40%) were infants. Of the total, 188 (94%) cases were of an infective etiology (mostly respiratory system). Temperature and heart rate were the two commonest SIRS parameters which were deranged. Blood cultures were positive in only 25 (12.5%) cases. Out of the total 200 children, 108 progressed to sepsis, of which 26 progressed to severe sepsis, of which 22 progressed to septic shock. Abnormal leukocyte count, culture positivity and severe acute malnutrition were significantly associated with progression of SIRS patients to septic shock (P = 0.001, 0.00001 and 0.002, respectively). Factors associated with mortality were positive blood culture, multiorgan dysfunction, late hospital admissions, severe acute malnutrition, and requirement of supportive care (P values-<0.0001, <0.0001, 0.03, <0.0001 and <0.0001, respectively).Conclusions:SIRS can progress to septic shock if not identified early. The predictors of mortality were positive blood cultures, multiorgan dysfunction, late hospital admissions, severe acute malnutrition, and requirement of supportive care. The predictors of progression to septic shock were abnormal leukocyte count, culture positivity, and severe acute malnutrition.

Association of Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome with Bacteremia in Patients with Sepsis.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the usability of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and commonly used biochemical parameters as predictors for positive blood culture in patients with sepsis. The study included 313 patients aged ≥18 years with severe sepsis and septic shock consecutively admitted in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the University Clinic for Infectious Diseases in Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia. The study took place from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2017. We recorded demographic variables, common laboratory tests, SIRS parameters, site of infection, comorbidities and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score. Blood cultures were positive in 65 (20.8%) patients with sepsis. Gram-positive bacteria were isolated from 35 (53.8%) patients. From the evaluated variables in this study, only the presence of four SIRS parameters was associated with bacteremia, finding that will help to predict bacteremia and initiate early appropriate therapy in septic patients.

Comparison of effects of no-, medium-, and high dose dexamethasone in adult cardiac surgery – A post-hoc analysis of the prospective, observational inflacor trial

Introduction Since the introduction of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) patients suffered within the first postoperative days after cardiac surgery of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). Patients discomfort and clinical symptoms of inflammation had been since target for prophylaxis and treatment with corticosteroids. High doses of corticosteroids to attenuate postoperative SIRS after CPB cardiac surgery are nowadays not recommended. This study compares the efficacy of low and high doses of dexamethasone. Methods Single center, prospective, observational study. Post-hoc analysis of n = 509 adult patients undergoing open heart surgery on CPB. Patients were grouped according to one dose of dexamethasone administered before CPB: I - none (n = 326), II - low dose - 0.4 mg/kg (n = 96), and III - high dose - 1.0 mg/kg (n = 87). Primary outcomes were: IL-6, ICAM1, soluble E-selectin levels three hours after operation, and CRP and WBC - 18 hours after operation. Secondary outcomes were: new-onset atrial fibrillation, myocardial infarction, delirium, sepsis, acute lung injury, acute kidney injury, length of stay in ICU and hospital, first-day drainage, and surgical reintervention. Stratified analyses were performed in CPB duration quartiles: 1: 11 – 100 Min. (n = 130), 2: 101-127 Min (n = 126), 3: 128-160 Min. (n = 126), 4: 161-476 Min. (n = 127). Results Dexamethasone ceased the trigger effect of CPB on levels of IL-6, ICAM1, sE-selectin at 3 hours after operation and CRP at 18 hours after operation. The levels of IL-6, soluble E-selectin, CRP and WBC didn't differ between groups II and III (p>0.05) and were lower than in group I (p Primary outcome variables were in close association with the secondary outcomes: IL-6 was a predictor for ICU-LOS (p = 0.049) and AKI (p = 0.0001); ICAM1 for ICU-LOS (p = 0.047), AKI (p Significant effects of dexamethasone were found only in detailed stratified analyses: in the third CPB quartile MI prevalence was higher in group II, compared with group I or III. In patients within the third CPB quartile, group II had higher risk of postoperative MI (aRR = 2.15; p = 0.03) in comparison to group I. Higher delirium prevalence in group III when compared with group II was observed in the first CPB quartile (aRR = 7.19; p = 0.035). Incidence of surgical reintervention was significantly lower in groups II and III, regardless of the dose, in the 4th CPB quartile, when compared with group I. Discussion CPB duration is a surrogate for complexity of the surgical procedure. Therefore AKI, sepsis, and postoperative bleeding remained in correlation with CPB duration. Dexamethasone in a dose of 0.4 mg/kg was as effective as 1.0 mg/kg in attenuating post-operative SIRS parameters, but had no significant effect on early postoperative morbidity.

Is drug-induced hepatitis related to the severity of tuberculous meningitis?

Drug-induced hepatitis (DIH) occurs more commonly in tuberculous meningitis (TBM) than non-CNS tuberculosis. We evaluate DIH in TBM and its relationship with disease severity and surrogate markers of stress. Sixty-seven patients with TBM were included prospectively. The diagnosis of DIH was based on five times elevation of alanine amino transferase (ALT) in asymptomatic and three times in symptomatic patients, serum bilirubin 1.5 mg/dL or more occurring after 3 days of antitubercular drugs without any other cause of liver dysfunction; and improvement in liver function upon drug withdrawal. Stage of TBM, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, signs of raised intracranial pressure (ICP), ESR, C-reactive protein (CRP), systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), serum cortisol and MRI findings were noted on admission and during DIH. A total of 32.8% (22/67) patients with TBM developed DIH that was associated with worsening in GCS score (p=0.01), stage TBM (p=0.02), SIRS parameters (p=0.04), ESR (p=0.04) and CRP (p<0.01) compared with their baseline. Stage of TBM independently predicted DIH (OR=0.42, 95% CI, 0.18-1.0; p=0.04)]. Drug-induced hepatitis occurred with paradoxical worsening in 11 patients and had higher mortality (32% vs 7%; p=0.01). DIH occurred in 32.8% (22/67) of patients with TBM, and was related to the severity of TBM and possibly to the accompanying 'physiological stress'.

Hypoalbuminemia, systemic inflammatory response syndrome, and functional outcome in intracerebral hemorrhage

PurposeHypoalbuminemia and systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) are reported in critically-ill patients, but their relationship is unclear. We sought to determine the association of admission serum albumin and SIRS with outcomes in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). MethodsWe used a multicenter, multinational registry of ICH patients to select patients in whom SIRS parameters and serum albumin levels had been determined on admission. Hypoalbuminemia was defined as the lowest standardized quartile of albumin; SIRS according to standard criteria. Primary outcomes were modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at discharge and in-hospital mortality. Regression models were used to assess for the association of hypoalbuminemia and SIRS with discharge mRS and in-hospital mortality. ResultsOf 761 ICH patients included in the registry 518 met inclusion criteria; 129 (25%) met SIRS criteria on admission. Hypoalbuminemia was more frequent in patients with SIRS (42% versus 19%; p<0.001). SIRS was associated with worse outcomes (OR: 4.68, 95%CI, 2.52–8.76) and in-hospital all-cause mortality (OR: 2.18, 95% CI, 1.60–2.97), while hypoalbuminemia was not associated with all-cause mortality. ConclusionsIn patients with ICH, hypoalbuminemia is strongly associated with SIRS. SIRS, but not hypoalbuminemia, predicts poor outcome at discharge. Recognizing and managing SIRS early may prevent death or disability in ICH patients.

Evaluation of the systemic inflammatory response syndrome criteria for the diagnosis of sepsis due to maternal bacteremia.

To examine, in the setting of maternal bacteremia, the implications for the diagnosis of maternal sepsis of customizing the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) criteria for physiologic changes of pregnancy. Women with maternal bacteremia in a tertiary maternity hospital during 2009-2014 were identified. Records were retrospectively reviewed to determine whether they fulfilled the criteria for diagnosis of sepsis based on either the standard SIRS parameters derived from the Surviving Sepsis Campaign or SIRS parameters customized for pregnancy. Diagnosis of sepsis was based on the presence of two or more SIRS criteria, in conjunction with infection, during the hour before and the 6 hours after phlebotomy for blood culture. Of 93 women with bacteremia, 61 (66%) would have been diagnosed with sepsis based on standard criteria compared with 52 (56%) based on customized criteria (P=0.18). Seventeen women had a diagnosis of sepsis based on the standard but not the customized criteria, while eight women had sepsis based on the customized but not the standard criteria. In maternal bacteremia, customized SIRS criteria do not increase the rate of diagnosis of sepsis. Prospective studies should investigate whether the introduction of customized SIRS criteria can improve clinical outcomes.

Effect of continuous blood purification on concentrations of plasma vasoactive substances and cardiac function in endotoxic shock

To evaluate the effect of continuous blood purification on cardiac function and plasma vasoactive substances in endotoxic shock in piglets. This was a randomized controlled trial in an animal laboratory in a tertiary care pediatric center. Twenty-three healthy Shanghai white piglets weighing 8-14 kg were randomly assigned to one of the four groups: control group (n = 5), continuous blood purification without lipopolysaccharide infusion group (continuous blood purification, n = 6), lipopolysaccharide-induced endotoxin shock without continuous blood purification group (lipopolysaccharide, n = 6), and lipopolysaccharide-induced endotoxin shock with continuous blood purification group (continuous blood purification/lipopolysaccharide, n = 6). The lipopolysaccharide and continuous blood purification/lipopolysaccharide groups were injected intravenously with Escherichia coli endotoxin to induce septic shock. The continuous blood purification and continuous blood purification/lipopolysaccharide groups received continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration right after model establishment. At baseline state (T0), following the injection of lipopolysaccharide (T), 1 hr later (T1), 3 hrs later (T3), and 5 hrs later (T5) after model establishment, clinical systemic inflammatory response syndrome parameters, hemodynamic indexes, and plasma concentration of vasoactive substances were obtained. Plasma concentration of dopamine was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DSL Company) and endothelin-1 by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (R&D Company). Nitric oxide synthase activity was measured by chromatometry (Nanjing Jiancheng Bioengineering Institute, China). In continuous blood purification/lipopolysaccharide group, after treatment with CPB, heart rate decreased significantly (p < .05) and pulse contour cardiac index, systematic vascular resistance index, and stroke volume index increased significantly (p < .05) when compared with lipopolysaccharide and continuous blood purification groups. After treatment with continuous blood purification, dopamine and endothelin-1 level increased and nitric oxide synthase activities decreased in continuous blood purification/lipopolysaccharide group when compared with the lipopolysaccharide group. In the continuous blood purification/lipopolysaccharide group, improvement in hemodynamic indexes was strongly correlated with increases in plasma dopamine and endothelin-1 level and decreases in nitric oxide synthase activity (r > .9, p < .05). The adverse cardiovascular effects of lipopolysaccharide-induced endotoxin shock can be improved by continuous blood purification. Improvement is correlated with increases in the concentration of plasma vasoactive substances (endothelin and dopamine) and decreases in nitric oxide synthase activity.

Plasma PGF 2α metabolite levels in cats with uterine disease

Uterine disease induces PGF 2α increase in many animal species, which can be measured by the metabolite 15-keto-(13,14)-dihydro-PGF 2α (PGFM). Plasma PGFM levels are associated with severity of the uterine disease and presence of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) in dogs. The objectives in this study were to investigate PGFM levels, presence of SIRS, and clinical and laboratory parameters in female cats as possible indicators for severity of uterine disease. In total, 7 female cats with pyometra, 2 with mucometra, 7 with cystic endometrial hyperplasia (CEH), and 14 healthy control cats were included. Physical examination, ovariohysterectomy, and histopathology were performed, laboratory parameters were analyzed, and PGFM levels were analyzed by radioimmunoassay. Analysis of variance, Fisher's exact test, Student's t-test and Pearson's product moment correlation coefficient were used for data analysis. In cats with pyometra, mean PGFM levels were increased (21.1 nmol L −1) but were decreased in cats with CEH (0.4 nmol L −1) compared with control cats (0.6 nmol L −1). In cats with mucometra, the mean PGFM level was 8.8 nmol L −1. Systemic inflammatory response syndrome was present in 6 (85%) cats with pyometra, 1 cat with mucometra, and 1 cat with CEH. Hospitalization length was negatively correlated with albumin and positively correlated with total white blood cell count (WBC), neutrophils, band neutrophils (BN), percentage BN (PBN), and monocytes. Pyometra and mucometra were associated with increased plasma levels of PGFM. The parameters albumin, WBC, neutrophils, BN, PBN, and monocytes may be useful to determine morbidity as measured by hospitalization length.

Validation of a Screening Tool for the Early Identification of Sepsis

Sepsis is the leading cause of mortality in noncoronary intensive care units. Recent evidence based guidelines outline strategies for the management of sepsis and studies have shown that early implementation of these guidelines improves survival. We developed an extensive logic-based sepsis management protocol; however, we found that early recognition of sepsis was a major obstacle to protocol implementation. To improve this, we developed a three-step sepsis screening tool with escalating levels of decision making. We hypothesized that aggressive screening for sepsis would improve early recognition of sepsis and decrease sepsis-related mortality by insuring early appropriate interventions. Patients admitted to the surgical intensive care unit were screened twice daily by our nursing staff. The initial screen assesses the systemic inflammatory response syndrome parameters (heart rate, temperature, white blood cell count, and respiratory rate) and assigns a numeric score (0-4) for each. Patients with a score of > or = 4 screened positive proceed to the second step of the tool in which a midlevel provider attempts to identify the source of infection. If the patients screens positive for both systemic inflammatory response syndrome and an infection, the intensivist was notified to determine whether to implement our sepsis protocol. Over 5 months, 4,991 screens were completed on 920 patients. The prevalence of sepsis was 12.2%. The screening tool yielded a sensitivity of 96.5%, specificity of 96.7%, a positive predictive value of 80.2%, and a negative predictive value of 99.5%. In addition, sepsis-related mortality decreased from 35.1% to 23.3%. The three step sepsis screening tool is a valid tool for the early identification of sepsis. Implementation of this tool and our logic-based sepsis protocol has decreased sepsis-related mortality in our SICU by one third.

Etiology and Evaluation of Pneumonia in Recruit Military Personnel

Etiology and Evaluation of Pneumonia in Recruit Military Personnel

C‐reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor α, and interleukin‐6 in dogs with pyometra and SIRS

AbstractObjective: To determine the frequency of the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) in canine pyometra and to evaluate the relationship between C‐reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), and SIRS.Design: Prospective clinical study.Setting: Veterinary teaching hospital.Animals: Fifty‐three clinical cases of canine pyometra and 19 healthy control bitches.Interventions: Upon admission to the veterinary hospital, history and physical examination findings, including previously defined clinical SIRS parameters, were documented. Blood samples were obtained for hematology and biochemical tests and for CRP, TNFα, and IL‐6 analysis. The diagnosis of pyometra was confirmed by histopathology of the uterus after ovariohysterectomy. After surgery, clinical SIRS parameters, length of hospitalization, and mortality were recorded.Measurements and main results: Pyometra dogs were grouped as SIRS positive (30/53; 57%) or SIRS negative (23/53; 43%). Logistic regression showed that CRP was the only parameter that significantly related to SIRS apart from the clinical criteria that define this syndrome. The mortality rate was low (2/53; 3.8%), and conclusions regarding association with SIRS could not be drawn. A positive SIRS status, high plasma CRP concentration, and high body temperature were variables that related to increased morbidity reflected by the length of hospitalization.Conclusions: SIRS was seen in 57% of canine pyometra cases and a positive SIRS status showed a positive association with prolonged hospitalization. The mortality rate was low (3.3%) among SIRS positive dogs, indicating that progression to multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) rarely occurs in surgically treated cases of pyometra. CRP was associated with SIRS and with prolonged hospitalization. Further studies of plasma CRP may be warranted in canine intensive care cases susceptible to development of SIRS and MODS.

Neutropenia and the development of the systemic inflammatory response syndrome.

To determine outcome and natural course of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) stages in adult febrile neutropenic patients. Retrospective cohort study in the medicine department and intensive care unit of a university hospital. Adults with cancer-related neutropenia and community-acquired fever. Patients were classified on admission according to SIRS parameters, tumor type, and degree of neutropenia. Records of clinical and laboratory data during hospitalization were reviewed. Univariate and logistic regression analyses were performed. Seventy-nine events in 62 patients were analyzed. Overall mortality rate was 20.2% (16/79). Mortality increased as SIRS stage worsened on admission. No patients with stage 2 SIRS died (neutropenia and fever alone) but 11.1% of patients with SIRS 3, 43.4% with SIRS 4, 66.6% with sepsis induced hypotension, and 90% with septic shock. SIRS stage on admission was an independent predictor of death and was related directly to rate of progression to shock, i.e., none of the patients with SIRS 2, 2.7%(1/36) of those with SIRS 3, and 30.4% (7/23) of those admitted with SIRS 4. Mortality and progression to septic shock increased as more SIRS criteria were met on admission. SIRS stages could serve as a risk-assessing model in febrile neutropenic patients.