Red blood cell and platelet parameters are sepsis predictors in an Escherichia coli induced lethal porcine model

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Tóth, Judit^a | Debreceni, Ildikó Beke^a | Berhés, Mariann^b | Hajdú, Endre^b | Deák, Ádám^c | Pető, Katalin^c | Szabó, Judit^d | Németh, Norbert^c | Fülesdi, Béla^b | Kappelmayer, János^{a; *}

Affiliations: [a] Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary | [b] Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary | [c] Department of Operative Techniques and Surgical Research, Institute of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary | [d] Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: János Kappelmayer, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Nagyerdei krt. 98. Debrecen, Hungary, 4032 Hungary. Tel.: +36 52 340 006; Fax: +36 52 417 631; E-mail: [email protected].

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: In a fulminant porcine sepsis model, we determined the kinetics of hypoxia induced changes in relation to sepsis parameters and markers of organ damage. METHODS: Female pigs were challenged by live Escherichia coli and samples were analysed up to 4 hours. Bone marrow reactions were determined by analysing immature forms of peripheral blood cells by a hematology analyser and light microscopy. Platelet mitochondrial membrane depolarisation was determined by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Core temperature, modified shock index and lactate levels all became significantly elevated compared to baseline values at 4 hours in septic animals. At 2 hours already the reticulocyte count, nucleated red blood cell count and the absolute number of dysplastic platelets became significantly elevated. The platelet mitochondrial membrane depolarisation was significantly decreased by 2 hours in septic animals compared to the baseline values and to control animals. No massive organ damage was evident during the 4-hour observation period, but uric acid levels in septic animals became significantly elevated already by 2 hours. CONCLUSIONS: In this Escherichia coli induced porcine model, severe sepsis was evident by conventional criteria at 4 hours while several - mostly hypoxemia induced - biomarkers were already altered by 2 hours.

Keywords: Immature red blood cells and platelets, platelet apoptosis, sepsis

DOI: 10.3233/CH-170271

Journal: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 66, no. 3, pp. 249-259, 2017