Serum CXCL12 levels on hospital admission predict mortality in patients with severe sepsis/septic shock.

OBJECTIVES

We evaluated serum levels of CXCL12 in patients with severe sepsis/septic shock and controls.

METHODS

We enrolled 27 patients admitted to our emergency department with severe sepsis/septic shock and 20 healthy controls. Complete blood count, serum levels of CXCL12, C-reactive protein, lactate, Charlson comorbidity index, sequential organ failure score on hospital admission, and inhospital mortality were evaluated at baseline (T0) and after 24 hours (T24).

RESULTS

Mean serum levels of CXCL12 were higher in patients with severe sepsis/septic shock than in healthy subjects (3121 vs 1991 pg/mL; P < .001). We also found that patient who survived had lower serum levels of CXCL12 than those who died (2630 vs 3957 pg/mL; P < .001) but still higher than controls (2630 vs 1991 pg/mL; P = .001) on admission. CXCL12 serum levels were higher in patients with serum lactate greater than 4 mmol/L.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data suggest a possible role for CXCL12 as a prognostic marker in severe sepsis/septic shock and give background evidence for larger trials to evaluate the pathophysiologic and clinical role of CXCL12 in sepsis, with respect to other markers of inflammation and hypoxia.