The Journal of infectious diseases
-
Thirteen patients (median age, 20 years) with life-threatening primary septic shock (10 meningococcal, 3 pneumococcal infections) were studied prospectively. All had a short history of sepsis (< or = 24 h) and no severe underlying disease. Two (15%) died. ⋯ The plasma levels of endotoxin, TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, and PAI-1 decreased toward normal levels within the first 24 h of treatment, but IL-6 and IL-1ra levels remained high until clinical recovery. On admission, the molar excess of IL-1ra to IL-1 beta was > 2000-fold in 11 of the 13 patients. Acute plasmapheresis in 11 of the 13 patients significantly increased the plasma clearance of TNF-alpha (P = .02).