K Ohashi1, H Yukioka, M Hayashi, A Asada. 1. Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Osaka City University Medical School, Japan.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: It has been reported that large amounts of nitric oxide (NO) are released in patients with sepsis. NO is converted to methemoglobin and nitrate. This study was designed to determine whether blood methemoglobin levels were increased in patients with sepsis or septic shock. METHODS: Forty-five critically ill patients including 8 with sepsis but without shock, 6 with septic shock and 31 non-septic patients were enrolled in the study. For septic and septic shock patients, blood methemoglobin concentrations were measured during sepsis or septic shock and at the time of recovery or just before the onset of sepsis. For the remaining non-septic patients, methemoglobin concentrations were measured at ICU admission and discharge. RESULTS: Blood methemoglobin levels in the presence of sepsis or septic shock were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than those in non-septic patients and those at recovery or just before the onset of sepsis in both septic and septic shock patients. CONCLUSIONS: Blood methemoglobin concentration may be useful as a marker of the onset of sepsis or septic shock.
BACKGROUND: It has been reported that large amounts of nitric oxide (NO) are released in patients with sepsis. NO is converted to methemoglobin and nitrate. This study was designed to determine whether blood methemoglobin levels were increased in patients with sepsis or septic shock. METHODS: Forty-five critically illpatients including 8 with sepsis but without shock, 6 with septic shock and 31 non-septic patients were enrolled in the study. For septic and septic shockpatients, blood methemoglobin concentrations were measured during sepsis or septic shock and at the time of recovery or just before the onset of sepsis. For the remaining non-septic patients, methemoglobin concentrations were measured at ICU admission and discharge. RESULTS: Blood methemoglobin levels in the presence of sepsis or septic shock were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than those in non-septic patients and those at recovery or just before the onset of sepsis in both septic and septic shockpatients. CONCLUSIONS: Blood methemoglobin concentration may be useful as a marker of the onset of sepsis or septic shock.
Authors: Michael M Hermon; Gudrun Burda; Johann Golej; Harald Boigner; Elisabeth Stoll; Erwin Kitzmüller; Gregor Wollenek; Arnold Pollak; Gerhard Trittenwein Journal: Intensive Care Med Date: 2003-01-21 Impact factor: 17.440