title: Pro-inflammatory cytokine profile of critically ill septic patients following therapeutic plasma exchange.
abstract: Severe sepsis involves a generalized inflammatory response, mediated by a number of various cytokines and factors. Plasma exchange (PE) has been proposed as a therapeutic approach to improve survival of patients with severe sepsis and septic shock. The theory is that removing harmful excessive endogenous inflammatory mediators is beneficial. Upon establishment of a diagnosis of severe sepsis, twelve patients received PE plus conventional sepsis treatment. Interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were assayed before and after each session of PE.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant changes in cytokine plasma levels after each PE session compared to pre-procedure levels. Among measured pro-inflammatory cytokines, only the plasma levels of IL-6 before the 2nd and 3rd PE sessions were lower than baseline levels (p=0.011 and p=0.012, respectively). All patients tolerated PE therapy well without any adverse effects or homodynamic instability. The results of this study showed that PE does not have a direct and rapid effect on plasma level of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Hadi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hamishehkar
authors.forename: Mohammad Taghi
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Beigmohammadi
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abdollahi
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mousavi
authors.forename: Shadi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ziaie
authors.forename: Ramazan Ali
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Sharifian
authors.forename: Setareh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Davoudi
authors.forename: Mojtaba
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mojtahedzadeh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016638:Critical Illness; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010951:Plasma Exchange / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018805:Sepsis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines