Intensive care medicine
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We studied blood MIP-1 alpha and IL-8 in 38 septic patients and 5 healthy volunteers. Both chemokines were undetectable in the healthy volunteers. In sepsis, serum MIP-1 alpha was detected in 45% of the patients and Il-8 in 84%. The levels of MIP-1 alpha, but not of IL-8, correlated with CRP, IL-6 and TNF alpha levels. Complications, including various organ failures and mortality, showed no correlation with serum MIP-1 alpha levels. In contrast, we found increased levels of serum IL-8 in septic patients with disseminated intravascular coagulation, central nervous system (CNS) dysfunction or renal failure, and the mortality rate was higher in the IL-8 detectable group than in the IL-8 undetectable group (50% vs 0%, p < 0.05). In conclusion, the production of both MIP-1 alpha and IL-8 was increased and initially detectable levels of circulating IL-8 predicted high mortality in sepsis. ⋯ The production of MIP-1 alpha and IL-8 was increased in sepsis. Furthermore, an initially detectable level of circulating IL-8, but not MIP-1 alpha, predicted a high mortality in sepsis diagnosed according to the ACCP/SCCM criteria.
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Intensive care medicine · Nov 1996
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialIncreased initial flow rate reduces inspiratory work of breathing during pressure support ventilation in patients with exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
To investigate whether the level of initial flow rate alters the work of breathing in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients ventilated in pressure support ventilation (PSV). ⋯ As the objective of PSV is to reduce the work of breathing, it seems logical to use the highest initial flow rate to induce the lowest possible work of breathing in COPD ventilated patients.
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Intensive care medicine · Nov 1996
Nitric oxide (NO) production correlates with renal insufficiency and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome in severe sepsis.
To investigate whether the production of nitric oxide (NO) relates to the development of renal insufficiency and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) in patients with severe sepsis. ⋯ Our results indicate that the production of NO correlates with renal insufficiency and MODS in patients with severe sepsis and that this reactive nitrogen intermediate could be involved in the pathogenesis of organ failure in these critically ill patients.