The effects of IgM-enriched immunoglobulin preparations in patients with severe sepsis [ISRCTN28863830]

INTRODUCTION: In this prospective, randomized controlled study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of IgM-enriched immunoglobulin treatment on progression of organ failure and septic shock in patients with severe sepsis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-two patients with severe sepsis were enrolled in the study. Patients in the study group (n = 21) received an intravenous immunoglobulin preparation (Pentaglobin(®)) in addition to standard therapy. Pentaglobin(®) therapy was commenced on the day of diagnosis of severe sepsis: 5 ml/kg per day Pentaglobin(®) (38 g/l IgG, 6 g/l IgM, and 6 g/l IgA) was infused over 6 hours and repeated for 3 consecutive days. Patients in the control group (n = 18) received standard sepsis therapy, but no immunoglobulin administration. Blood samples for procalcitonin (PCT) measurements were taken daily for 8 days. Severity of critical illness and development of organ failure were assessed by obtaining daily acute physiological and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) II and sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) scores. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Procalcitonin levels showed a statistically significant decrease in the Pentaglobin(®) group (P < 0.001); however, an improvement in SOFA scores could not be demonstrated. Procalcitonin levels and SOFA scores did not change significantly in the control group. Septic shock incidence (38% versus 57%) and 28-day mortality rate (23.8% versus 33.3%) were found to be similar between the Pentaglobin(®) and control groups. The evaluation of serial APACHE II scores did not demonstrate a difference between Pentaglobin(®) and control groups either. CONCLUSION: Present data could not demonstrate any beneficial effects of polyclonal immunoglobulin preparation Pentaglobin(®) on organ morbidity, septic shock incidence and mortality rate in patients with severe sepsis

Effect of magnesium sulfate administration on blood–brain barrier in a rat model of intraperitoneal sepsis: a randomized controlled experimental study

INTRODUCTION: Permeability changes in the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and their possible contribution to brain edema formation have a crucial role in the pathophysiology of septic encephalopathy. Magnesium sulfate has been shown to have a protective effect on BBB integrity in multiple experimental models. In this study we determine whether magnesium sulfate administration could have any protective effects on BBB derangement in a rat model of sepsis. METHODS: This randomized controlled experimental study was performed on adult male Sprague–Dawley rats. Intraperitoneal sepsis was induced by using the infected fibrin–thrombin clot model. To examine the effect of magnesium in septic and sham-operated rats, a dose of 750 μmol/kg magnesium sulfate was given intramuscularly immediately after surgery. Control groups for both infected and sham-operated rats were injected with equal volume of saline. Those rats surviving for 24 hours were anesthetized and decapitated for the investigation of brain tissue specific gravity and BBB integrity by the spectrophotometric assay of Evans blue dye extravasations. Another set of experiments was performed for hemodynamic measurements and plasma magnesium level analysis. Rats were allocated into four parallel groups undergoing identical procedures. RESULTS: Sepsis significantly increased BBB permeability to Evans blue. The dye content of each hemisphere was significantly lower in the magnesium-treated septic rats (left hemisphere, 0.00218 ± 0.0005; right hemisphere, 0.00199 ± 0.0007 [all results are means ± standard deviation]) than in control septic animals (left hemisphere, 0.00466 ± 0.0002; right hemisphere, 0.00641 ± 0.0003). In septic animals treated with magnesium sulfate, specific gravity was higher (left hemisphere, 1.0438 ± 0.0007; right hemisphere, 1.0439 ± 0.0004) than in the untreated septic animals (left hemisphere, 1.0429 ± 0.0009; right hemisphere, 1.0424 ± 0.0012), indicating less edema formation with the administration of magnesium. A significant decrease in plasma magnesium levels was observed 24 hours after the induction of sepsis. The dose of magnesium that we used maintained the baseline plasma magnesium levels in magnesium-treated septic rats. CONCLUSIONS: Magnesium administration attenuated the increased BBB permeability defect and caused a reduction in brain edema formation in our rat model of intraperitoneal sepsis

Letter Comments on the study by Taniguchi and coworkers- proving Hippocrates is alive

I read with interest the article by Taniguchi and coworkers [1] and its accompanying commentary by AdIgüzel and colleagues [2] in Critical Care. I have some questions concerning the methodology of the study. Taniguchi and coworkers randomized the postoperative patients to two groups: automated pressure support (PS) mandatory rate ventilation (MRV) and manual PS. In the automated PS MRV group, the patient’s expected respiratory rate (RR) was used as a guide to adjust the PS level, employing the algorithm of the Taema-Horus Ventilator ® (Air Liquid, France) in MRV mode. However, in the manual PS group the guide for adjusting the PS level was tidal volume/RR (which was kept less than 80 l), and adjustments were done manually every 30 minutes by intensive care staff. The study did not compare automated weaning with manual weaning. Rather, it compared automated weaning using a RR target versus manual weaning using tidal a volume/RR ratio target. To justify the conclusions reached by Taniguchi and coworkers and the title of the report, these treatment groups would have needed to differ only in terms of the automated versus manual management component. Second, they weaned the patients when the PS level decreased to 5 to 7 cmH 2 O without conducting a spontaneous breathing trial at the start of the study. This may complicate weaning and prolong the weaning time in this group of patients. Third, are postoperative patients suitable for such a weaning study? It is likely that whatever protocol you use for weaning, most of them will be weaned without any difficulty in a very short period of time. To prove that Hippocrates is alive we need fine-tuned studies. If not we may believe that he is alive but it will be unproven. Authors ’ respons

Relationship between arterial oxygen tension and mortality of patients in intensive care unit on mechanical ventilation support

BACKGROUND: Although there are studies demonstrating hyperoxia may be an independent risk factor for increased mortality and morbidity, this issue remains unclear. Our research then aimed to examine the relationship between arterial oxygen tension, arterial carbon dioxide tension, and in-hospital mortality of critically ill patients in intensive care unit (ICU)