Critical care : the official journal of the Critical Care Forum
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Observational Study
The oxygen reactivity index indicates disturbed local perfusion regulation after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: an observational cohort study.
Cerebral autoregulation (CA) can be impaired in patients with delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). The Pressure Reactivity Index (PRx, correlation of blood pressure and intracranial pressure) and Oxygen Reactivity Index (ORx, correlation of cerebral perfusion pressure and brain tissue oxygenation, PbtO2) are both believed to estimate CA. We hypothesized that CA could be poorer in hypoperfused territories during DCI and that ORx and PRx may not be equally effective in detecting such local variances. ⋯ PRx and ORx are not interchangeable measures of autoregulation, as they likely measure different homeostatic mechanisms. PRx represents the classical cerebrovascular reactivity and might be better suited to detect disturbed autoregulation during phases with moderately elevated ICP. Autoregulation may be poorer in territories affected by DCI. These local perfusion disturbances leading up to DCI may be more readily detected by ORx than PRx. Further research should investigate their robustness to detect DCI and to serve as a basis for autoregulation-targeted treatment after aSAH.
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Angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) is associated with vascular endothelial injury and permeability in the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and sepsis. Elevated circulating Ang-2 levels may identify critically ill patients with distinct pathobiology amenable to targeted therapy. We hypothesized that plasma Ang-2 measured shortly after hospitalization among patients with sepsis would be associated with the development of ARDS and poor clinical outcomes. ⋯ We found that early plasma Ang-2 in sepsis was associated with higher baseline severity of illness, the development of ARDS, and mortality risk. The association between Ang-2 and mortality was strongest among patients with ARDS and sepsis as compared to those with sepsis alone (OR 1.81 vs. 1.52 per log Ang-2 increase). These findings might inform models testing patient risk prediction and strengthen the evidence for Ang-2 as an appealing biomarker for patient selection for novel therapeutic agents to target vascular injury in sepsis and ARDS.
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Multicenter Study Observational Study
Increasing angiotensin-converting enzyme concentrations and absent angiotensin-converting enzyme activity are associated with adverse kidney outcomes in pediatric septic shock.
Sepsis-induced endothelial dysfunction is proposed to cause angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) dysfunction and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) derangement, exacerbating vasodilatory shock and acute kidney injury (AKI). Few studies test this hypothesis directly, including none in children. We measured serum ACE concentrations and activity, and assessed their association with adverse kidney outcomes in pediatric septic shock. ⋯ ACE activity is diminished in pediatric septic shock, appears uncoupled from ACE concentrations, and is associated with adverse kidney outcomes. Further study is needed to validate these findings in larger cohorts.
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Multicenter Study
Influence of gender on age-associated in-hospital mortality in patients with sepsis and septic shock: a prospective nationwide multicenter cohort study.
Numerous epidemiological studies investigating gender-dependent clinical outcomes in sepsis have shown conflicting evidence. This study aimed to investigate the effect of gender on in-hospital mortality due to sepsis according to age group. ⋯ Gender may influence age-associated sepsis outcomes. Further studies are needed to replicate our findings and fully understand the interaction of gender and age on the outcomes of patients with sepsis.