title: Soluble CD40 ligand profiles in patients with septic shock.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) has been considered as a marker of thrombosis and inflammation in several diseases, including sepsis. Recent studies challenge this view and point to a role of sCD40L in vascular and endothelial function. An indication of that association in sepsis has not been obtained so far. Therefore, herein we evaluated association between sCD40L and markers of hemorheology and inflammation on context of septic shock.
  
  
  METHODS
  Time-changes of sCD40L levels over 72 hours of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) internment were assessed in 22 patients with septic shock and compared with 36 healthy volunteers. Association of sCD40L levels with erythrocyte deformability and aggregation (as markers of hemorheology), plasma concentrations of haemoglobin (Hb, as markers of endothelial function) and white blood cells (WBC) count (as marker of low-grade inflammation) were assessed in patients with septic shock.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At ICU admission, sCD40L concentrations in patients with septic shock were lower (p = 0.024) than levels of healthy volunteers. However, sCD40L did not change over 72 hours of internment (F = 2.1, p = 0.137). Soluble CD40L levels in patients with septic shock at ICU admission correlate with concentrations of Hb (r = 0.61, p = 0.00) and WBC count (r = 0.63, p = 0.00), but not to erythrocyte deformability (r≥0.157, p≤0.235) and aggregation (r≥-0.109, p≤0.192).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results seem to highlight a possible association of sCD40L to endothelial function and inflammation in septic shock context.
authors: Carlota Saldanha Lab, Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
authors: Patrícia
authors: P
authors: Napoleão
authors: Carlota Saldanha Lab, Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
authors: Ekaterina
authors: E
authors: Potapova
authors: Carlota Saldanha Lab, Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
authors: Sara
authors: S
authors: Moleirinho
authors: Carlota Saldanha Lab, Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.|Instituto de Bioquímica Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
authors: Carlota
authors: C
authors: Saldanha
authors: Unidade de Cuidados Intensivos, Hospital Beatriz Ângelo, Loures, Portugal.
authors: António
authors: A
authors: Messias
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D023201:CD40 Ligand / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D018056:Hemorheology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D023201:CD40 Ligand
keywords: Sepsis; haemoglobin; hemorheology; inflammation; sCD40L