Experience with hemoadsorption (CytoSorb) in the management of septic shock patients.

BACKGROUND

Cytokines and inflammatory mediators are the hallmarks of sepsis. Extracorporeal cytokine hemoadsorption devices are the newer clinical support system to overcome the cytokine storm during sepsis.

AIM

To retrospectively evaluate the clinical outcomes of patients admitted in intensive care unit with septic shock with different etiologies.

METHODS

The laboratory parameters including biomarkers such as procalcitonin, serum lactate and C-reactive protein; and the hemodynamic parameters; mean arterial pressure, vasopressor doses, sepsis scores, cytokine levels and other vital parameters were evaluated. We evaluated these outcomes among survivors and non-survivors.

RESULTS

Of 100 patients evaluated, 40 patients survived. Post treatment, the vasopressors dosage remarkably decreased though it was not statistically different; 34.15% ( = 0.0816) for epinephrine, 20.5 % for norepinephrine ( = 0.3099) and 51% ( = 0.0678) for vasopressin. In the survivor group, a remarkable reduction of biomarkers levels; procalcitonin (65%, = 0.5859), C-reactive protein (27%, = 0.659), serum lactate (27%, = 0.0159) and bilirubin (43.11%; = 0.0565) were observed from baseline after CytoSorb therapy. A significant reduction in inflammatory markers; interleukin 6 and interleukin 10; (87% and 92%, < 0.0001) and in tumour necrosis factor (24%, = 0.0003) was also seen. Overall, 28 (28%) patients who were given CytoSorb therapy less than 48 h after onset of septic shock survived and the maximum duration of stay for 70% of these patients in intensive care unit was less than 15 d.

CONCLUSION

CytoSorb is a safe and well tolerated rescue therapy option in patients with septic shock. However, early (preferably within < 48 h after onset of septic shock) initiation could result in better clinical outcomes. Further randomized trials are needed to define the potential benefits of this new treatment modality.