Are tumor necrosis factor (TNF) or cortisol of value for the diagnosis of acute septicemia?
Early diagnosis is of great importance to improve the prognosis of septicemia. Traditional laboratory tests are either delayed like blood cultures, or unspecific like WBC count or ESR. In this retrospective pilot study we have assayed plasma cortisol, blood sugar and serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF) from patients with verified septicemia. With the approach used in this study none of the tests were able to differentiate between septicemia and other infectious febrile illnesses, or to predict if the causing organism was gram-positive or gram-negative.
Rollof
J
J
Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Lund, Sweden.
Akervall
J
J
Rydberg
J
J
D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D008088:Listeriosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018805:Sepsis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D013997:Time Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis*
D001786:Blood Glucose; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D006854:Hydrocortisone