Prognostic Value of Platelet to Lymphocyte Ratio in Sepsis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

The value of D-dimer-albumin ratio as a prognostic biomarker in critically ill patients with sepsis: A retrospective single-center study

Background

This study aimed to examine the potential prognostic significance of the D-dimer-albumin ratio (DAR) in critically ill patients with sepsis.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was carried out at the Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, involving 1123 patients diagnosed with sepsis from January 2015 to November 2023. The patients were categorized into four groups (Q1-Q4) based on their DAR levels. The primary outcomes measured were in-hospital mortality and ICU mortality. Survival analysis was conducted using Kaplan-Meier survival curves and the log-rank test. Additionally, Cox proportional hazards regression models were utilized to investigate the relationship between the DAR and all-cause mortality.

Results

The study population had a median age of 75 years (interquartile range: 65-84), and the median DAR was 0.15 (interquartile range: 0.08-0.32). The rates of hospital mortality and ICU mortality were 33.7 % and 31.9 % respectively. There was an observed increase in the cumulative incidence of 30-/60-day mortality with higher DAR levels (log-rank test, P < 0.001). After accounting for other variables, the results from multivariable Cox proportional hazards analyses demonstrated that DAR independently predicted hospital death [HR (95%CI): 1.419 (1.205-1.670); P < 0.001] and ICU death [HR (95%CI): 1.437 (1.219-1.693); P < 0.001].

Conclusions

The DAR was found to be an independent predictor of all-cause mortality in critically ill patients with sepsis.

A Comparative Study of the Aggregate Index of Systemic Inflammation (AISI) and C-Reactive Protein (CRP) in Predicting Odontogenic Abscesses Severity: A Novel Approach to Assessing Immunoinflammatory Response

Background/Objectives: Odontogenic abscesses are a common cause of emergency visits to oral and maxillofacial surgery departments and can lead to life-threatening complications if they are not recognized and treated promptly. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of the Aggregate Index of Systemic Inflammation (AISI) in comparison to other systemic inflammatory indices, including the Systemic Immune Inflammation Index (SII), the Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR), the Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR), and the Lymphocyte-to-Monocyte Ratio (LMR), in predicting the severity of odontogenic abscesses. Methods: This retrospective study included 221 patients hospitalized for odontogenic abscesses at Dubrava University Hospital between January 2019 and December 2023. Clinical and laboratory data, including AISI, SII, NLR, PLR, and LMR, were collected. The severity of the abscesses was assessed using the Symptom Severity (SS) Score and patients were categorized into less severe and severe groups based on their scores. An ROC curve analysis was used to assess the predictive accuracy of each inflammatory index. Results: The AISI was identified as the most effective predictor of abscess severity and had the highest sensitivity (SE = 82.93) and specificity (SP = 81.63) among the indices analyzed. It outperformed C-reactive protein (CRP) in predicting severe abscesses with an AUC of 0.90 compared to 0.74 for CRP. In addition, AISI showed significant correlations with length of hospital stay and the occurrence of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). Conclusions: The AISI index is a better predictor of odontogenic abscess severity compared to other systemic inflammatory markers and CRP. Its integration into clinical practice could improve the early detection of high-risk patients, leading to better treatment outcomes and lower risks of complications.

Concomitant determination of hematological indices supported the application of the albumin-bilirubin score in non-malignant liver diseases

The albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) score is a useful prognostic marker that predicts mortality in patients suffering from terminal diseases. Recently, it has been reported that ALBI score is a predictor of non-malignant liver diseases. The cutoff point of the ALBI score that distinguishes hepatocellular carcinoma from non-malignant liver disease is still not identified. Therefore, the ALBI score is a sensitive rather than a specific predictor of the poor outcomes of liver diseases. There are many hematological indices and ratios that are utilized as prognostic biomarkers. Among these biomarkers are the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and platelet-hemoglobin ratio (PHR), which are useful discriminating prognostic biomarkers for liver diseases, e.g., hepatocellular carcinoma, hepatitis, liver fibrosis, etc. There is evidence that PLR and PHR are prognostic biomarkers that predict the poor outcomes of diseases. Therefore, concomitant measurements of ALBI score and PHR or ALBI score and PLR will improve the predictive value that can differentiate hepatocellular carcinoma from non-malignant diseases.

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratios in bacterial infections: contributions to diagnostic strategies in a tertiary care hospital in Tunisia

BACKGROUND

Bacterial infections continue to pose a global health challenge, driven by antibiotic resistance and septicemia. This study aimed to assess the diagnostic utility of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) in bacterial infections versus non-infectious causes of inflammation.

METHODS

A prospective study included 164 adult patients who were divided into two groups: a group of patients with confirmed bacterial infections and a second group of patients with other diagnoses (inflammatory pathologies, neoplasms, venous thromboembolic diseases, etc.). NLR and PLR values were compared between the bacterial infection group and the non-infectious causes group and the diagnostic performances of NLR and PLR for detecting bacterial infections were evaluated in comparison with other infection markers.

RESULTS

NLR and PLR were significantly higher in bacterial infections (p < 10 ^-6), and NLR was correlated positively with inflammation markers. NLR and PLR demonstrated significant potential in diagnosing bacterial infections, with an AUC of 0.72 and 0.60, respectively, using the following cutoff values: 4.3 for NLR and 183 for PLR.

CONCLUSION

These findings underscore the importance of NLR and PLR as adjunctive tools for bacterial infection diagnosis.

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratios in bacterial infections: contributions to diagnostic strategies in a tertiary care hospital in Tunisia

Background

Bacterial infections continue to pose a global health challenge, driven by antibiotic resistance and septicemia. This study aimed to assess the diagnostic utility of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) in bacterial infections versus non-infectious causes of inflammation.

Methods

A prospective study included 164 adult patients who were divided into two groups: a group of patients with confirmed bacterial infections and a second group of patients with other diagnoses (inflammatory pathologies, neoplasms, venous thromboembolic diseases, etc.). NLR and PLR values were compared between the bacterial infection group and the non-infectious causes group and the diagnostic performances of NLR and PLR for detecting bacterial infections were evaluated in comparison with other infection markers.

Results

NLR and PLR were significantly higher in bacterial infections (p < 10 ^-6), and NLR was correlated positively with inflammation markers. NLR and PLR demonstrated significant potential in diagnosing bacterial infections, with an AUC of 0.72 and 0.60, respectively, using the following cutoff values: 4.3 for NLR and 183 for PLR.

Conclusion

These findings underscore the importance of NLR and PLR as adjunctive tools for bacterial infection diagnosis.

Development and Validation of a Nomogram for Predicting Acute Kidney Injury in Septic Patients

Purpose

Sepsis-associated acute kidney injury (S-AKI) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. We aimed to develop a nomogram for predicting the risk of S-AKI patients.

Patients and Methods

We collected data from septic patients admitted to the Provincial Hospital Affiliated with Shandong First Medical University from January 2019 to September 2022. Septic patients were divided into two groups based on the occurrence of AKI. A nomogram was developed by multiple logistic regression analyses. The performance of the nomogram was evaluated using C-statistics, calibration curves, and decision curve analysis (DCA). The validation cohort contained 70 patients between December 2022, and March 2023 in the same hospital.

Results

198 septic patients were enrolled in the training cohort. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and vasopressor use were independent risk factors for S-AKI. A nomogram was developed based on these factors. C-statistics for the training and validation cohorts were respectively 0.873 (95% CI 0.825-0.921) and 0.826 (95% CI 0.727-0.924), indicating high prediction accuracy. The calibration curves showed good concordance. DCA revealed that the nomogram was of great clinical value.

Conclusion

The nomogram presents early and effective prediction for the S-AKI patients, and provides optimal intervention to improve patient outcomes.

Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio and systemic immune-inflammatory index as markers of response to autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in persons with multiple sclerosis

INTRODUCTION

Biomarkers that help to evaluate the immune system and could be useful in multiple sclerosis (MS) are the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and systemic immune-inflammatory index (SII). The objective of this work is to evaluate the significance of the SII index, PLR, and NLR before and after transplantation in individuals with MS who underwent autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant (aHSCT) at a single institution.

METHODS

Patients with MS who received an aHSCT between 2017 and 2022 were included in the study. NLR, PLR, and SII index were calculated prior to the transplant and 100 days after, and evaluation of the expanded disability status scale (EDSS) was done before the transplant and 12 months after. The cohort was divided into two groups: aHSCT responders (R) and nonresponders (NR).

RESULTS

Fifty-eight individuals were examined: 37 patients in the responders group R group and 21 in NR group. There was no statistically significant difference in the SII, NLR, and PLR prior to the transplant, however at 100 days post-HSCT, NLR in the R group was 1.8 versus 3.1 in the NR group (p = 0.003), PLR was 194 versus 295, respectively (p = 0.024), meanwhile SII index was 489.5 versus 729.3 (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

High NLR and SII index values after the aHSCT were associated with a worsening in the EDSS score. However, since this is the first ever study that compared NLR and SII index with the aHSCT response in persons with MS, further studies must be performed to corroborate this information.

Platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio as predictors of refractory anaphylaxis

Background

Refractory anaphylaxis poses an ongoing, lethal hypersensitivity response that unpredictably involves multiple organs despite appropriate intramuscular (IM) adrenaline injections. Studies on the association of the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) concerning anaphylactic severity have yet to be carried out. The study aimed to evaluate the association between blood PLR and NLR levels and refractory anaphylaxis.

Methods

We carried out a retrospective cross-sectional study in which medical records of patients with anaphylaxis who sought urgent care at the Emergency Department (ED) of Tertiary Hospital in Hanoi, Vietnam, were evaluated. Based on the United Kingdom Resuscitation Council guidelines in 2021, patients were classified as refractory anaphylaxis if they needed more than two appropriate doses of intramuscular adrenaline for anaphylactic symptoms resolution. Clinical data and laboratory results were obtained in the medical records. Logistic regression analysis determined the association between contributing factors and refractory anaphylaxis.

Results

One-hundred eighteen adults (age 51.80 ± 18.25 years) were analyzed, including 38 refractory anaphylaxis patients (32.2%). Refractory anaphylaxis patients exhibited notably elevated platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) (P = 0.006) and increased neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) (P < 0.001) in comparison to non-refractory anaphylaxis patients. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis demonstrated an optimal PLR cutoff value of 129.5 (area under the ROC curve [AUC] 0.658, sensitivity 73.68%, specificity 61.25%, P = 0.004) and an optimal NLR cutoff value of 4 (AUC 0.736, sensitivity 65.79%, specificity 73.75%, P < 0.001) for refractory anaphylaxis. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed a PLR≥129.5 (OR = 4.83, 95% CI: 1.87-12.48) and an NLR≥4 (OR = 4.60, 95% CI: 1.86-11.41) were independently associated with refractory anaphylaxis.

Conclusion

Elevated PLR and NLR serve as independent indicators significantly associated with refractory anaphylaxis.

Characteristics and clinical relevance of leukocytic response in children with diabetic ketoacidosis - A comparative cohort study

Objective

Leukocytosis is often observed among children presenting with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). This study compares detailed parameters of leukocytosis in children presenting with DKA versus infection.

Subjects and methods

In this comparative cohort study, we collected data from two groups of children, one hospitalized with DKA and another with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). The primary objective was to compare the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) between the groups. Total leukocyte count (TLC), absolute neutrophil count (ANC), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and platelet-to-monocyte ratio (PMR) were also compared. The correlation of these hematological parameters with the clinical outcomes in the DKA group was also explored.

Results

Data from 35 children with DKA (mean age 7.4 years, 12 boys) and 40 children with CAP (mean age 7.9 years, 15 boys) were available for comparison. No significant NLR difference was observed between the DKA and CAP groups. Similarly, no significant difference was observed in TLC and ANC between the groups. However, significant differences between the DKA and CAP groups were observed regarding mean (standard deviation) PLR (108.26 [67.51] versus 166.60 [163.83], respectively, p = 0.01) and mean PMR (1,795.40 [4,307.00] versus 886.33 [1,726.41], p = 0.01). Among children with DKA, ANC and PMR correlated positively and hemoglobin level correlated negatively with unfavorable outcomes.

Conclusions

Specific parameters of leukocytosis (PLR and PMR) differed significantly in children with DKA versus CAP. Some widely available and inexpensive hematological parameters of inflammation (hemoglobin, ANC, and PMR) may predict outcomes in patients with DKA.

How Immunonutritional Markers Are Associated with Age, Sex, Body Mass Index and the Most Common Chronic Diseases in the Hospitalized Geriatric Population-A Cross Sectional Study

The aim of this study was to assess the relationship of different chronic diseases with immunonutritional markers in the senior population.

METHODS

this study included 1190 hospitalized geriatric patients. The criteria to participate were ability to communicate, given consent and C-reactive protein (CRP) lower than 6 mg/dL.

RESULTS

the mean age of the study population was 81.7 ± 7.6 years. NLR (neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio), LMR (lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio), MWR (monocyte-to-white blood cell ratio), SII (systemic immune-inflammation index), PNI (prognostic nutritional index) and CAR (C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio) were related to age. NLR and MWR were higher, while LMR, PLR (platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio and SII were lower in men. All markers were related to BMI. NLR, LMR, LCR (lymphocyte-to-CRP ratio), MWR, PNI and CAR were related to several concomitant chronic diseases. In multivariate analyses, age and BMI were selected as independent predictors of all studied immunonutritional markers. Atrial fibrillation, diabetes mellitus and dementia appear most often in the models. PNI presented the most consistent statistical association with age, BMI and concomitant chronic diseases.

CONCLUSIONS

this study reveals the pivotal role of aging and BMI in inflammatory marker levels and the association of immunonutritional markers with different chronic diseases. Atrial fibrillation seems to have the most dominant connection to the immunonutritional markers.

Immune profile of patients‑a new approach in management of sepsis and septic shock?

The present study was a prospective observational single center study, enrolling 102 patients with sepsis, admitted in the Intensive Care Unit of the County Emergency Clinical Hospital in Târgu Mureș (Mureș, Romania). The main goal of the present study was to compare the changes of the following parameters on day 1 compared with day 5, in sepsis compared with septic shock, as well as in survivors compared with non-survivors: Cell blood count parameters, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-lymphocyte ratio and systemic inflammation index, C reactive protein (CRP), ferritin, procalcitonin (PCT), CD 3+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, CD16+CD56+/CD3-NK cells and CD19+ B cells. The relationship between the subcategories of lymphocytes with the inflammatory markers was evaluated. The serum concentration of CRP and PCT was significantly lower on day 5 compared with day 1 and serum ferritin was significantly higher in patients with septic shock. The percentage of cytotoxic T lymphocytes was significantly decreased and the percentage of NK lymphocytes was significantly increased in patients who developed septic shock. The results indicated a negative significant correlation between the proportion of T lymphocytes and PCT concentration and a positive significant correlation between the proportion of B lymphocytes and PCT concentration.

Role of platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio at the time of arrival to the emergency room as a predictor of short-term mortality in trauma patients with severe trauma team activation

BACKGROUND

Platelet-to-Lymphocyte ratio (PLR) has been studied as a prognostic factor for various diseases and traumas. This study examined the utility of PLR as a tool for predicting 30-day mortality in patients experiencing severe trauma.

METHODS

This study included 139 patients who experienced trauma and fulfilled ≥1 criteria for activation of the hospital's severe trauma team. Patients were divided into non-survivor and survivor groups. Mean PLR values were compared between the groups, the optimal PLR cut-off value was determined, and mortality and survival analyses were performed. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS ver. 26.0. The threshold of statistical significance was P<0.05.

RESULTS

There was a significant difference in mean (±standard deviation) PLR between the non-survivor (n=36) and survivor (n=103) groups (53.4±30.1 vs. 89.9±53.3, respectively; P<0.001). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis revealed an optimal PLR cut-off of 65.35 (sensitivity, 0.621; specificity, 0.694, respectively; area under the ROC curve, 0.742), and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed a significant difference in mortality rate between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

PLR can be calculated quickly and easily from a routine complete blood count, which is often performed in the emergency department for individuals who experience trauma. The PLR is useful for predicting 30-day mortality in trauma patients with severe trauma team activation.

Clinical and inflammatory response to antiviral treatments in dogs with parvoviral enteritis

BACKGROUND

Canine parvoviral enteritis (CPE) is a fatal disease worldwide. The treatment of CPE is based mainly on supportive and symptomatic treatment. Antiviral addition to the treatment may result in a higher survival.

OBJECTIVES

This study evaluated the effects of antiviral treatments with a standardized treatment (ST) on the clinical and inflammatory response of dogs with naturally occurring CPE.

METHODS

Twenty-eight dogs with CPE caused by canine parvovirus type 2 were divided randomly into treatment groups. The ST group received fluid, antibiotic, antiemetic, and deworming treatments. The antiviral treatment groups received the same ST with an additional antiviral drug, recombinant feline interferon omega (rFeIFN-ω), oseltamivir (OSEL) or famciclovir (FAM).

RESULTS

Compared to the healthy control, the tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, interferon (IFN)-α, IFN-γ, haptoglobin, and C-reactive protein values were high (p < 0.05) on day zero. At presentation, mild lymphopenia, neutropenia, and a high neutrophil to lymphocyte (LYM) ratio (NLR) were also observed. Adding rFeIFN-ω to the ST produced the best improvement in the clinical score with a decreased NLR, while leucocytes remained low and inflammatory markers stayed high on day three. The survival rates of the groups were 85.7% in ST+IFN, 71.4% in ST+OSEL, 71.4% in ST+FAM, and 57.1% in ST groups on day seven.

CONCLUSIONS

Antiviral drugs may be valuable in treating CPE to improve the clinical signs and survival. In addition, the decrease in NLR in favor of LYM may be an indicator of the early prognosis before the improvement of leukocytes, cytokines, and acute phase proteins in CPE.

Prognostic value of systemic immune-inflammation index and serological biomarkers for deep neck infections

BACKGROUND

Inflammatory biomarkers, including C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio, platelet to lymphocyte ratio, and the systemic immune-inflammation index, have been proposed as prognostic factors diverse pathologies. However, their application for deep neck infections has yet to be clarified.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We performed a retrospective study of 163 adult patients with diagnosis of deep neck infections with the aim to evaluate the association between serological biomarkers with complications and outcomes of patients with DNI. Studied variables included demographic data, complications of DNI, outcomes, complications and death of the included subjects. The evaluated serological biomarkers were hemoglobin, leukocytes, neutrophils, lymphocytes, platelets, glucose, creatinine, albumin, CRP, and ESR. NLR, PLR, and SIII index were estimated.

RESULTS

The patients' mean age was 40.6 ± 15.3 years. Complications of DNI were observed in 19.6% (n=32) patients, being the need for tracheostomy due to airway obstruction (11%, n=18) and mediastinitis (8.6%, n= 14) the most common. Evaluated subjects had an increased value of serological biomarkers (SII index 2639.9 ± 2062.9, NLR 11.3 ± 8.5, PLR 184.1 ± 108.5, CRP 12.6 ± 8.9 mg/dL, ESR 20.7 ± 9.1 mm/h). Patients with complications had a significantly higher value of all inflammatory parameters (p < 0.05). A SII index cut-off value of 2975 was selected from a ROC curve analysis. A sensitivity of 93.8%, specificity of 86.3%, a positive predictive value of 62.5%, and a negative predictive value of 98.3% are reported. The SII index was found to have an increased positive predictive value compared to NLR, PLR, and CRP for DNI complications.

CONCLUSIONS

Our analysis concluded that the SII index, NLR, and PLR are valuable biomarkers to assess the risk of complications from DNI. SII index showed a high accuracy for prediction of DNI complications with a cut-off value of 2975.

Applying artificial neural network in predicting sepsis mortality in the emergency department based on clinical features and complete blood count parameters

A complete blood count (CBC) is routinely ordered for emergency department (ED) patients with infections. Certain parameters, such as the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), might have prognostic value. We aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of the presenting CBC parameters combined with clinical variables in predicting 30-day mortality in adult ED patients with infections using an artificial neural network (ANN). We conducted a retrospective study of ED patients with infections between 17 December 2021 and 16 February 2022. Clinical variables and CBC parameters were collected from patient records, with NLR, monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) calculated. We determined the discriminatory performance using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) and performed a 70/30 random data split and supervised ANN machine learning. We analyzed 558 patients, of whom 144 (25.8%) had sepsis and 60 (10.8%) died at 30 days. The AUROCs of NLR, MLR, PLR, and their sum were 0.644 (95% CI 0.573-0.716), 0.555 (95% CI 0.482-0.628), 0.606 (95% CI 0.529-0.682), and 0.610 (95% CI 0.534-0.686), respectively. The ANN model based on twelve variables including clinical variables, hemoglobin, red cell distribution width, NLR, and PLR achieved an AUROC of 0.811 in the testing dataset.

Is Carboxyhaemoglobin an Effective Bedside Prognostic Tool for Sepsis and Septic Shock Patients?

Introduction

Proper management of sepsis poses a challenge even today, with early diagnosis and targeted treatment being the most important steps. Easy, cost-effective bedside tools are needed in order to pinpoint towards the outcome of sepsis or septic shock.

Aim of study

This study aims to find a correlation between Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA), Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) and Simplified Acute Physiology Score II (SAPS II) severity scores, the Neutrophil-Lymphocytes Ratio (NLR) and carboxyhaemoglobin (COHb) levels in septic or septic shock patients with the scope of establishing a bed side cost-effective prognostic tool.

Materials and methods

A pilot, prospective, observational, and ongoing study was conducted on 61 patients admitted with sepsis or septic shock according to the SEPSIS 3 Consensus definition. We followed clinical and paraclinical parameters on day 1 (D1) and day 5 (D5) after meeting the inclusion criteria.

Results

On D1 we found a statistically significant positive correlation between each severity score (p <0.0001), r = 0.7287 for SOFA vs. APACHE II with CI: 0.5841-0.8285, r = 0.6862 for SOFA vs. SAPS II with CI: 0.5251-0.7998 and r = 0.8534 for APACHE II vs. SAPS II with CI: 0.7663 to 0.9097. On D5 we observed similar results: a significant positive correlation between each severity score (p <0.0001), with r = 0.7877 for SOFA vs. APACHE II with CI: 0.6283 to 0.8836, r = 0.8210 for SOFA vs. SAPS II with CI: 0.6822 to 0.9027 and r = 0.8880 for APACHE II vs. SAPS II., CI: 0.7952 to 0.9401. Nil correlation was found between the severity scores, NLR and COHb on D1 and D5.

Conclusion

Cost-effective bedside tools to pinpoint towards the outcome of sepsis are yet to be found, however the positive correlation between the severity scores point out to a combination of such tools for prognosis prediction of septic or septic shock patients.

Evaluating clinical heterogeneity and predicting mortality in severely burned patients through unsupervised clustering and latent class analysis

Burn injuries often result in a high level of clinical heterogeneity and poor prognosis in patients with severe burns. Clustering algorithms, which are unsupervised methods that can identify groups with similar trajectories in patients with heterogeneous diseases, can provide insights into the mechanisms of the disease pathogenesis. This study aimed to analyze routinely collected biomarkers to understand their mortality prediction power, identify the clinical meanings or subtypes, and inform treatment decisions to improve the outcomes of patients with burns. This retrospective cohort study included patients aged ≥ 18 years who were admitted between January 2010 and December 2021. The patients were divided into four subgroups based on the time period of their admission: week 1, 2, 3, and 4. The study revealed that 22 biomarkers were evaluated, and the red blood cell distribution width, bicarbonate level, pH, platelets, and lymphocytes were significantly associated with the mortality risk. Latent class analysis further demonstrated that the pH, platelets, lymphocytes, lactate, and albumin demonstrated the lowest levels in the cluster with the highest risk of mortality, with the lowest levels of pH and lactate being particularly noteworthy in week 1 of the study. During the week 2, the pH and lymphocyte levels were demonstrated to be significant predictors of the mortality risk, whereas the lymphocyte and platelet counts were meaningful predictors in week 3. During week 4, pH, platelet count, and albumin level were important predictors of mortality risk. Analysis of routinely collected biomarkers using clustering algorithms and latent class analysis can provide valuable insights into the heterogeneity of burn injuries and improve the ability to predict disease progression and mortality. Our findings suggest that lactate levels are a better indicator of cellular hypoxia in the early stages of burn shock, whereas platelet and lymphocyte levels are more indicative of infections such as sepsis. Albumin levels are considered a better indicator of reduced nutritional loss with decrease in unhealed burn wounds; however, the pH levels reflect the overall condition of the patient throughout the study period. These findings can be used to inform treatment decisions and improve the outcomes of burn patients.

Low-molecular-weight heparin therapy reduces 28-day mortality in patients with sepsis-3 by improving inflammation and coagulopathy

Background and aim

Sepsis is a syndromic response to infection and is associated with high mortality, thus imposing a significant global burden of disease. Although low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) has been recommended to prevent venous thromboembolism, its anticoagulant and anti-inflammatory effects in sepsis remain controversial. Owing to the modification of the Sepsis-3 definition and diagnostic criteria, further evaluation of the efficacy and benefit population of LMWH is required.

Methods

We performed a retrospective cohort study to assess whether LMWH improved the inflammation, coagulopathy, and clinical outcomes against Sepsis-3 and to identify the target patients. All patients diagnosed with sepsis at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University (the largest general hospital in northwest China) from January 2016 to December 2020 were recruited and re-evaluated using Sepsis-3 criteria.

Results

After 1:1 propensity score matching, 88 pairs of patients were categorized into the treatment and control groups based on subcutaneous LMWH administration. Compared with the control group, a significantly lower 28-day mortality was observed in the LMWH group (26.1 vs. 42.0%, p = 0.026) with a comparable incidence of major bleeding events (6.8 vs. 8.0%, p = 0.773). Cox regression analysis showed that LMWH administration was the independent protective factor for septic patients (aHR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.29-0.81; p = 0.006). Correspondingly, the LMWH treatment group showed a significant improvement in inflammation and coagulopathy. Further subgroup analysis showed that LMWH therapy was associated with favorable outcomes in patients younger than 60 years and diagnosed with sepsis-induced coagulopathy (SIC), ISTH overt DIC, non-septic shock, or non-diabetics and in patients included in the moderate-risk group (APACHE II score 20-35 or SOFA score 8-12).

Conclusion

Our study results showed that LMWH improves 28-day mortality by improving inflammatory response and coagulopathy in patients meeting Sepsis-3 criteria. The SIC and ISTH overt DIC scoring systems can better identify septic patients who are likely to benefit more from LMWH administration.

Low Lymphocyte-to-Monocyte Ratio as a Possible Predictor of an Unfavourable Clinical Outcome in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke after Mechanical Thrombectomy

Background

Although considerable progress has been made in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke (AIS), the clinical outcome of patients is still significantly influenced by the inflammatory response that follows stroke-induced brain injury. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential use of complete blood count parameters, including indices and ratios, for predicting the clinical outcome in AIS patients undergoing mechanical thrombectomy (MT).

Methods

This single-centre retrospective study is consisted of 179 patients. Patient data including demographic characteristics, risk factors, clinical data, laboratory parameters on admission, and clinical outcome were collected. Based on the clinical outcome assessed at 3 months after MT by the modified Rankin Scale (mRS), patients were divided into two groups: the favourable group (mRS 0-2) and unfavourable group (mRS 3-6). Stepwise multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to detect an independent predictor of the unfavourable clinical outcome.

Results

An unfavourable clinical outcome was detected after 3 months in 101 patients (54.4%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis confirmed that the lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) was an independent predictor of unfavourable clinical outcome at 3 months (odds ratio = 0.761, 95% confidence interval 0.625-0.928, and P = 0.007). The value of 3.27 was chosen to be the optimal cut-off value of LMR. This value could predict the unfavourable clinical outcome with a 74.0% sensitivity and a 54.4% specificity.

Conclusion

The LMR at the time of hospital admission is a predictor of an unfavourable clinical outcome at 3 months in AIS patients after MT.

OCT-Based Biomarkers are Associated with Systemic Inflammation in Patients with Treatment-Naïve Diabetic Macular Edema

INTRODUCTION

Diabetic macular edema (DME) is one of the major sight-threatening complications of diabetic retinopathy, which is associated with retinal inflammation. However, it is still unknown whether DME is associated with systemic inflammation. The study aimed to investigate the association between systemic inflammatory and optical coherence tomography (OCT) biomarkers in patients with treatment-naïve center-involving diabetic macular edema (DME) and to further explore the role of systemic inflammation in DME.

METHODS

Medical records including clinical characteristics and ophthalmic examinations were collected from patients with treatment-naïve center-involving DME. Systemic inflammation markers including systemic immune-inflammatory index (SII), neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) were calculated. OCT biomarkers, including intraretinal cyst (IRC) size, disorganization of retinal inner layers (DRIL), external limiting membrane (ELM)/ellipsoid zone (EZ) integrity, retinal hyperreflective foci (HRF), subretinal fluid (SRF) and vitreomacular (VM) status were evaluated manually. Correlation analysis and multivariable linear regression models were used to investigate the relationship between systemic inflammatory markers and OCT biomarkers.

RESULTS

A total of 82 patients with treatment-naïve center-involving DME were included. The number of HRF on OCT was correlated with SII, NLR, and PLR and positively associated with SII (p < 0.001) in both univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses. The differences remained largely the same during subgroup analysis controlling DM duration, SRF, and ELM/EZ integrity. No significant association was observed between other OCT biomarkers and blood inflammatory markers.

CONCLUSION

Retinal HRF in diabetic macular edema is associated with blood inflammatory markers, which supports the theory of HRF's inflammatory nature and emphasizes the important role of inflammation in DME. SII may be a potential marker for DME treatment decisions.