title: Decrease in circulating dendritic cells predicts fatal outcome in septic shock.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Biomarkers allowing accurate early staging of septic shock patients are lacking despite their obvious interest for patient management. Experimental models of septic shock in mouse previously noted a decrease in dendritic cell numbers. The aim of the study was to find a rapid reproducible biological test for an assessment of disease severity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Evaluation of peripheral blood dendritic cell counts by flow cytometry using three commercially available kits.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-two consecutive septic shock patients were studied prospectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Early low dendritic cell counts were correlated to disease severity as assessed by Simplified Acute Physiology Score or Sequential Organ Failure Assessment and predicted fatal outcome. The correlation was still present when the results were adjusted for age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The monitoring of blood dendritic cell count may provide an early and valuable assessment of the severity of the host response against infection and may influence the therapeutic management of septic shock patients.
authors.affiliation: Département de Réanimation Médicale et Urgences, Hôpital St André, CHU de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France.
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Guisset
authors.forename: Marie-Sarah
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Dilhuydy
authors.forename: Rodolphe
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Thiébaut
authors.forename: Jérôme
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lefèvre
authors.forename: Fabrice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Camou
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sarrat
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gabinski
authors.forename: Jean-François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Moreau
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Blanco
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003713:Dendritic Cells; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000097:blood* / Q000401:mortality*