Neutrophil deformability in patients with sepsis, septic shock, and adult respiratory distress syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the deformability of morphologically active and passive neutrophils in patients with sepsis (SP), septic shock (SS), and adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).


METHODS
Prospective, observational study.


METHODS
A university hospital intensive care unit and research laboratory.


METHODS
Six patients with sepsis, six patients with septic shock, and six patients with ARDS. Eight healthy volunteers and eight ventilated but noninfected patients served as controls.


METHODS
None.


RESULTS
Morphologically passive and active neutrophil deformability as defined by the micropipette method was significantly decreased in patients with SP, SS, and ARDS associated with sepsis as compared with both control groups. Neutrophils from SS and ARDS patients were significantly more rigid as compared with neutrophils from SP patients but they did not differ from each other. The percentage of activated neutrophils was significantly higher in SP, SS, and ARDS patients. Increased passive neutrophil rigidity was significantly attenuated after coincubation with cytochalasin D. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1beta serum levels were significantly higher in SP, SS, and ARDS patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The entire neutrophil population is less deformable in SP, SS, and ARDS patients. The decreased deformability of passive neutrophils suggests that a direct mechanism involving actin polymerization, distinct from cell activation, is involved. These observations may be important in the mechanism of impaired vascular flow in patients with sepsis.
Department of Medicine, Patras University School, Patras University Medical School, Greece.
A T
AT
Skoutelis
V
V
Kaleridis
G M
GM
Athanassiou
K I
KI
Kokkinis
Y F
YF
Missirlis
H P
HP
Bassaris
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018375:Neutrophil Activation; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018805:Sepsis / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
D007375:Interleukin-1; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha