Circulating endothelin-1 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha: early predictors of mortality in patients with septic shock.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the predictive value of early determination of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, TNF-alpha 1 and 2 soluble receptors (sTNFR1 and sTNFR2) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) for mortality in patients with septic shock.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
Intensive care unit of a university hospital.


METHODS
Twenty-one patients with septic shock.


METHODS
None.


RESULTS
Patients with septic shock had a pulmonary artery catheter inserted and blood samples drawn at time zero, 6, 12 and 24 h, simultaneously with hemodynamic assessments. Plasma levels of all markers were measured by ELISA. All patients were followed up to hospital discharge or death. Age and APACHE II scores were significantly higher in nonsurvivors (n = 11) than in survivors (n = 10). Hemodynamic assessments did not aid in the discrimination between the two groups of patients (P > 0.05). Levels of TNF-alpha were higher in nonsurvivors than in survivors at all time-points. sTNFR1 and sTNFR2 were also significantly elevated in nonsurvivors, but not in all measurements. Endothelin-1, however, was significantly higher in nonsurvivors than in survivors only at 6 h (P = 0.02). When both TNF-alpha and ET-1 were increased at early time-points, the best predictive values for mortality were obtained [positive and negative predictive values of 72 and 100% at 6 h, odds ratio 3.0, 95% CI (1.2-7.6)].


CONCLUSIONS
Increased levels of TNF-alpha were consistently higher at all time-points in nonsurvivors with septic shock. ET-1 levels, however, appeared also to be an early and sensitive predictor of mortality. Very early determination of TNF-alpha and ET-1 in septic shock may help to identify patients at higher risk for adverse outcome.
Brauner
J S
JS
Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
Rohde
L E
LE
Clausell
N
N
D018806:APACHE; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000097:blood; D016638:Critical Illness; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000097:blood; D047888:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I; D047889:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000097:blood* / Q000401:mortality*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism*
D015703:Antigens, CD; D019332:Endothelin-1; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D047888:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I; D047889:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha