Serum adhesion molecules as outcome predictors in adult severe sepsis patients requiring mechanical ventilation in the emergency department

•Serum adhesion molecules play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of sepsis syndrome.•We evaluate the role of serum adhesion molecules in septic patients with ventilation•VCAM-1 level was independently predictive of mortality.•Lactate concentration significantly correlated with the VCAM-1 level on admission.

Background and aimSerum adhesion molecules play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of sepsis syndrome. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of serum adhesion molecules in patients with severe sepsis and mechanical ventilation (MV) at the emergency department.MethodsEighty-seven consecutive patients with severe sepsis, including 35 with MV, were evaluated. Serum samples were collected for analysis of serum adhesion molecules. The patients' clinical and laboratory data on admission were also recorded.ResultsThe maximum 24-h APACHE II and 24-h SOFA scores were significantly higher in the severe sepsis patients requiring MV than in patients without MV (p = 0.02 and p < 0.001). Mortality rate was significantly higher in severe sepsis patients requiring MV than in patients without MV (40% [14/35] vs. 9.6% [5/52], p = 0.001).Both VCAM-1 level (p = 0.03) and lactate concentration (p = 0.04) on admission had significant differences between survivors and non-survivors in patients requiring MV. In the logistic regression model, only VCAM-1 level (p = 0.049) was independently predictive of mortality. By correlation analysis, lactate concentration significantly correlated with the mean VCAM-1 level on admission (γ = 0.484, p = 0.004). The area under the ROC curve for VCAM-1 level was 0.747 (p = 0.02, 95% CI: 0.576–0.918). The cut-off value of VCAM-1 level for predicting hospital mortality in severe sepsis patients receiving MV was 1870 ng/mL, with 77% sensitivity and 71% specificity; then the likelihood ratio equals 2.7.ConclusionsIn this study, VCAM-1 level is a more powerful outcome predictor of hospital mortality in severe sepsis patients requiring MV than lactate concentration and other conventional parameters on admission. This suggests that increased plasma VCAM-1 concentration may be useful in identifying who are at risk of hospital mortality among severely septic patients requiring MV.

Graphical abstractThe receiver operating characteristic curve for VCAM-1 and lactate level on admission demonstrate that VCAM-1 level is a more powerful outcome predictor of hospital mortality in severe sepsis patients requiring mechanical ventilation than lactate concentration and other conventional parameters on admission.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide