Accumulations of von Willebrand factor within ECMO oxygenators: Potential indicator of coagulation abnormalities in critically ill patients?

Clot formation within membrane oxygenators (MOs) remains a critical problem during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). The composition of the clots—in particular, the presence of von Willebrand factor (vWF)—may be an indicator for prevalent nonphysiological flow conditions, foreign body reactions, or coagulation abnormalities in critically ill patients. Mats of interwoven gas exchange fibers from randomly collected MOs (PLS, Maquet, Rastatt, Germany) of 21 patients were stained with antibodies (anti‐vWF and anti‐P‐selectin) and counterstained with 4′,6‐diamidino‐2‐phenylindole. The extent of vWF‐loading was correlated with patient and technical data. While 12 MOs showed low vWF‐loadings, 9 MOs showed high vWF‐loading with highest accumulations close to crossing points of adjacent gas fibers. The presence and the extent of vWF‐fibers/“cobwebs,” leukocytes, platelet–leukocyte aggregates (PLAs), and P‐selectin‐positive platelet aggregates were independent of the extent of vWF‐loading. However, the highly loaded MOs were obtained from patients with a significantly elevated SOFA score, severe thrombocytopenia, and persistent liver dysfunction. The coagulation abnormalities of these critically ill patients may cause an accumulation of the highly thrombogenic and elongated high‐molecular‐weight vWF multimers in the plasma which will be trapped in the MOs during the ECMO therapy.     

The impact of coagulation parameters on the outcomes of patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia requiring intensive care unit admission

Introduction

Coagulation abnormalities are frequent in patients with severe infections. However, the predictive value of d-dimer and of the presence of associated coagulation derangements in severe community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) remains to be thoroughly evaluated. The aim of this study was to investigate the predictive value of coagulation parameters in patients with severe CAP admitted to the intensive care unit.

Methods

d-Dimer, antithrombin, International Society of Thrombosis and Hemostasis score, clinical variables, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA), The Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) and the CURB-65 score were measured in the first 24 hours. Results are shown as median (25%-75% interquartile range). The main outcome measure was hospital mortality.

Results

Ninety patients with severe CAP admitted to the intensive care unit were evaluated. Overall hospital mortality was 15.5%. d-Dimer levels in nonsurvivors were higher than those in survivors. In the univariate analysis, d-dimer, SOFA, and APACHE II scores were predictors of death. The discriminative ability of d-dimer (area under receiver operating curve = 0.75 [95% confidence interval, 0.64-0.83]; best cutoff for d-dimer was 1798 ng/mL) for in-hospital mortality was comparable with APACHE II and SOFA and better than C-reactive protein. Moreover, the addition of d-dimer to APACHE II or SOFA score increased the discriminative ability of both scores (area under the receiver operating curve = 0.82 [0.72-0.89] and 0.84 [0.75-0.91], respectively).

Conclusions

d-Dimer levels are good predictors of outcome in severe CAP and may augment the predictive ability of scoring systems as APACHE II and SOFA.     

MELD和SOFA评分系统对预测慢加急性肝衰竭患者短期预后的临床应用价值

目的评价终末期肝病模型(MELD)和序贯器官衰竭估计(SOFA)评分系统对预测慢加急性肝衰竭(ACLF)患者短期预后的临床应用价值。方法对78例慢加急性肝衰竭患者的资料进行回顾性分析,依据治疗3个月时患者的生存情况分为死亡组和生存组,分别进行MELD和SOFA系统评分。应用受试者工作特征曲线(ROC)评价预测价值,并用K-M生存曲线分析两种预测模型的差异。结果 MELD和SOFA分值均能够较好地预测慢加急性肝衰竭患者3个月内的病死率,C-statistic分别为0.826和0.825,两者的预测能力比较差异无统计学意义(Z=0.0148,P=0.988)。SOFA评分7分和MELD评分23.9分患者分别较SOFA评分≥7分和MELD评分≥23.9分者生存率显著增高,差异有统计学意义(χ~2值分别为17.66和28.33,P值均为0.000)。结论 MED和SOFA评分系统在预测慢加急性肝衰竭患者短期预后方面效果相近。     

急诊患者连续性肾脏替代治疗的预后因素分析

目的:了解急诊患者连续性肾脏替代治疗(CRRT)的预后评价及死亡风险的预测因素。方法:回顾分析我院急诊监护室2005-05-2011-07接受CRRT治疗的217例患者。结果:217例急诊患者,中位年龄68(50～77)岁,应用Logistic回归分析影响死亡的危险因素,由大到小依次是呼吸机(P<0.001),APACHEⅡ评分(P<0.001),年龄(P=0.001)。应用ROC曲线计算APACHEⅡ评分、SOFA评分和乳酸的曲线下面积(AUC),分别为0.780(P<0.001)、0.723(P<0.001)、0.725(P<0.001)。结论:APACHEⅡ评分、SOFA评分和乳酸可用于CRRT患者死亡风险的预测,指导临床治疗。机械通气、APACHEⅡ评分和年龄与患者的死亡具有密切联系。     

Thrombin generation in severe sepsis

Introduction

Hemostasis and inflammation are two tightly interrelated systems in the host's response to infection. Thrombin generation in sepsis plays a crucial role in enhancing and modulation of inflammation. The present study aimed to investigate the course of thrombin generation in patients with severe sepsis, and its correlation with outcome.

Materials and Methods

Thrombin generation was measured in platelet-poor plasma from 32 healthy controls and 75 patients with severe sepsis using the commercially available Calibrated Automated Thrombography. Samples were taken within 24 hours of the diagnosis of severe sepsis (t1) as well as on day 2 (t2), day 3 or 4 (t3) and between day 6 to 8 (t4), while this was done only once in healthy controls. The assay was run with and without the addition of thrombomodulin. Clinical data were also collected at the same time points.

Results

Except for endogenous thrombin potential, there was significant difference between patients and controls regarding peak thrombin, lag time and time to thrombin peak. Twelve patients (16%) died in the ICU. There was no significant difference in endogenous thrombin potential between survivors and non-survivors of sepsis. Thrombin peak was higher in survivors than non-survivors at all time points, with a significant difference at t2 and t4. The lag time and time to thrombin peak were shorter in non-survivors than in survivors at t1 and t3.

Conclusions

While thrombin peak shows a positive correlation with survival, the lag phase and time to thrombin peak may be signs of impending DIC. The endogenous thrombin potential does not have any prognostic importance.     

Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores differ between genders in a sepsis cohort: Cause or effect?

Background.

Controversy exists regarding the influence of gender on sepsis events and outcome. Epidemiological data from other countries may not always apply to local circumstances. The aim of this study was to identify gender differences in patient characteristics, treatment, and outcome related to the occurrence of sepsis at admission to the ICU.

Methods.

A prospective observational cohort study on patients admitted to the ICU over a 3-year period fulfilling sepsis criteria during the first 24 hours. Demographic data, APACHE II score, SOFA score, TISS 76, aetiology, length of stay (LOS), mortality rate, and aspects of treatment were collected and then analysed with respect to gender differences.

Results.

There were no gender-related differences in mortality or length of stay. Early organ dysfunction assessed as SOFA score at admission was a stronger risk factor for hospital mortality for women than for men. This discrepancy was mainly associated with the coagulation sub-score. CRP levels differed between genders in relation to hospital mortality. Infection from the abdominopelvic region was more common among women, whereas infection from skin or skin structures were more common in men.

Conclusion.

In this cohort, gender was not associated with increased mortality during a 2-year follow-up period. SOFA score at ICU admission was a stronger risk factor for hospital mortality for women than for men. The discrepancy was mainly related to the coagulation SOFA sub-score. Together with differences in CRP levels this may suggest differences in inflammatory response patterns between genders.     

降钙素原、D-二聚体联合SOFA评分对脓毒症预后的评估价值

目的：探讨降钙素原、D-二聚体联合SOFA评分对脓毒症患者预后的评估价值。方法：通过回顾性分析,选择2017年10月—2020年10月在济源市人民医院诊治的脓毒症患者60例,根据患者入院28 d预后情况将其分为存活组(43例)和死亡组(17例)。对比存活组和死亡组的一般临床资料信息,记录患者入院24 h内的降钙素原、D-二聚体、SOFA评分、白细胞、血小板等实验室指标及28 d预后;通过多因素Logisitic回归分析影响脓毒症患者预后的独立危险因素;建立降钙素原、D-二聚体和SOFA评分的组合,分析降钙素原、D-二聚体联合SOFA评分对脓毒症患者预后的评估价值。结果：存活组降钙素原、D-二聚体水平和SOFA评分明显低于死亡组(t=22.720、17.640、2.327),有血液系统疾病史的病例数也低于死亡组(χ²=4.596);血小板水平明显高于死亡组(t=7.904),差异均具有统计学意义(均P<0.05)。多因素Logistic回归分析结果表明,降钙素原(OR=1.311,95%CI:1.024～1.874)、D-二聚体水平(OR=1.809,95%C...     

重症急性胰腺炎预后影响因素分析

目的 结合临床病例资料探讨影响重症急性胰腺炎预后的因素.方法 收集医院收治的重症急性胰腺炎(severe acute pancreatitis,SAP)患者66例进行回顾性研究,将腹内压(intra-abdominal pressure,IAP)、C-反应蛋白(C-reactive protein,CRP)、年龄、白细胞计数(white blood cell,WBC)、血钙、体重指数(body mass index,BMI),CT评分及SOFA评分分为高分组及低分组观察SAP的预后、胰周感染及并发症的影响因素,并探究影响因素对重症胰腺炎病程的影响.结果 存活的患者胰周感染率、SOFA评分与死亡的患者比较,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05).有并发症的患者CRP高分组(≥200 mg/L)发生率、住院天数与无并发症的患者比较,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05).有胰周感染者的并发症发生率、血钙水平、IAP、SOFA、CRP、住院时间与无胰周感染者相比较,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05).结论 SOFA评分为预后、胰周感染及并发症发生的重要预测指标.CRP为并发症发生的重要预测指标.