Resuscitating the microcirculation in sepsis: the central role of nitric oxide, emerging concepts for novel therapies, and challenges for clinical trials

Association of Microvascular Function and Endothelial Biomarkers With Clinical Outcome in Dengue: An Observational Study

Background. The hallmark of severe dengue is increased microvascular permeability, but alterations in the microcirculation and their evolution over the course of dengue are unknown.

Methods. We conducted a prospective observational study to evaluate the sublingual microcirculation using side-stream dark-field imaging in patients presenting early (<72 hours after fever onset) and patients hospitalized with warning signs or severe dengue in Vietnam. Clinical findings, microvascular function, global hemodynamics assessed with echocardiography, and serological markers of endothelial activation were determined at 4 time points.

Results. A total of 165 patients were enrolled. No difference was found between the microcirculatory parameters comparing dengue with other febrile illnesses. The proportion of perfused vessels (PPV) and the mean flow index (MFI) were lower in patients with dengue with plasma than those without leakage (PPV, 88.1% vs 90.6% [P = .01]; MFI, 2.1 vs 2.4 [P = .007]), most markedly during the critical phase. PPV and MFI were correlated with the endothelial activation markers vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (P < .001 for both) and angiopoietin 2 (P < .001 for both), negatively correlated.

Conclusions. Modest microcirculatory alterations occur in dengue, are associated with plasma leakage, and are correlate with molecules of endothelial activation, angiopoietin 2 and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1.

A Stromal Cell-Derived Factor 1α Analogue Improves Endothelial Cell Function in Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Endothelial cell (EC) dysfunction is a critical mediator of the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Recent studies have demonstrated that stromal cell-derived factor 1α (SDF-1α) promotes EC barrier integrity. Our previous studies used a SDF-1α analogue CTCE-0214 (CTCE) in experimental sepsis and demonstrated that it attenuated vascular leak and modulated microRNA (miR) levels. We examined the hypothesis that CTCE improves EC function in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ARDS through increasing miR-126 expression. Human microvascular endothelial cells (HMVECs) were treated with thrombin to disrupt the EC integrity followed by incubation with CTCE or SDF-1α. Barrier function was determined by trans-endothelial electrical resistance assay. CTCE-induced alterations in miRNA expression and signaling pathways involved in barrier function were determined. Thrombin-induced vascular leak was abrogated by both CTCE and SDF-1α. CTCE also prevented thrombin-induced decreases of vascular endothelial (VE)-cadherin cell surface expression and expansion of the intercellular space. CTCE increased miR-126 levels and induced activation of AKT/Rac 1 signaling. Cotreatment with a miR-126 inhibitor blocked the protective effects of CTCE on AKT activation and endothelial permeability. In subsequent in vivo studies, ARDS was induced by intratracheal instillation of LPS. Intravenous injection of CTCE diminished the injury severity as evidenced by significant reductions in protein, immune cells, inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, increased miR-126 expression and decreased pulmonary vascular leak and alveolar edema. Taken together, our data show that CTCE improves endothelial barrier integrity through increased expression of miR-126 and activation of Rac 1 signaling and represents an important potential therapeutic strategy in ARDS.

Endothelial and Microcirculatory Function and Dysfunction in Sepsis

The microcirculation is a series of arterioles, capillaries, and venules that performs essential functions of oxygen and nutrient delivery, customized to the unique physiologic needs of the supplied organ. The homeostatic microcirculatory response to infection can become harmful if overactive and/or dysregulated. Pathologic microcirculatory dysfunction can be directly visualized by intravital microscopy or indirectly measured via detection of circulating biomarkers. Although several treatments have been shown to protect the microcirculation during sepsis, they have not improved patient outcomes when applied indiscriminately. Future outcomes-oriented studies are needed to test sepsis therapeutics when personalized to a patient's microcirculatory dysfunction.

Microcirculatory alterations during haemorrhagic shock and after resuscitation in a paediatric animal model

BACKGROUND

Haemorrhagic shock is frequent in paediatric trauma patients and after cardiac surgery, especially after cardiopulmonary bypass. It has demonstrated to be related to bad outcome.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate changes on microcirculatory parameters during haemorrhagic shock and resuscitation in a paediatric animal model. To determine correlation between microcirculatory parameters and other variables routinely used in the monitoring of haemorrhagic shock.

METHODS

Experimental study on 17 Maryland pigs. Thirty minutes after haemorrhagic shock induction by controlled bleed animals were randomly assigned to three treatment groups receiving 0.9% normal saline, 5% albumin with 3% hypertonic saline, or 5% albumin with 3% hypertonic saline plus a bolus of terlipressin. Changes on microcirculation (perfused vessel density (PVD), microvascular blood flow (MFI) and heterogeneity index (HI)) were evaluated and compared with changes on macrocirculation and tisular perfusion parameters.

RESULTS

Shock altered microcirculation: PVD decreased from 13.5 to 12.3 mm mm(-2) (p=0.05), MFI decreased from 2.7 to 1.9 (p<0.001) and HI increased from 0.2 to 0.5 (p<0.001). After treatment, microcirculatory parameters returned to baseline (PVD 13.6 mm mm(-2) (p<0.05), MFI 2.6 (p<0.001) and HI 0.3 (p<0.05)). Microcirculatory parameters showed moderate correlation with other parameters of tissue perfusion. There were no differences between treatments.

CONCLUSIONS

Haemorrhagic shock causes important microcirculatory alterations, which are reversed after treatment. Microcirculation should be assessed during haemorrhagic shock providing additional information to guide resuscitation.

Microcirculatory alterations in shock states

Functional components of the microcirculation provide oxygen and nutrients and remove waste products from the tissue beds of the body's organs. Shock states overwhelmingly stress functional capacity of the microcirculation, resulting in microcirculatory failure. In septic shock, inflammatory mediators contribute to hemodynamic instability. In nonseptic shock states, the microcirculation is better able to compensate for alterations in vascular resistance, cardiac output, and blood pressure. Therefore, global hemodynamic and oxygen delivery parameters are appropriate for assessing, monitoring, and guiding therapy in hypovolemic and cardiogenic shock but, alone, are inadequate for septic shock.

Brief report: Serial capillary lactate measurement predict the evolution of early sepsis

OBJECTIVE

In intensive care settings, blood lactate level measurement proved to be an excellent predictor of outcomes. In patients requiring less urgent treatment, the arterial blood lactate is less sensitive and its usefulness remains to be proven. Capillary blood lactate dosing, an emergent point-of-care technique readily available should be more sensitive to changes in these settings.

METHOD

prospective, observational, monocentric study conducted in a polyvalent internal medicine ward in a French University Hospital. The inclusion criteria were the existence of new symptoms of abrupt onset in an otherwise stable patient. All the patients had a point of care measurement of baseline capillary and venous lactate levels (EDGE, ApexBio) and standardized control before any therapeutic means were initiated. A follow-up test was performed once again within 12 to 36 hours. All the patients received standard medical care adapted to their condition. The primary outcomes were considered dying within 30 days or requiring intensive care or invasive therapeutic procedures.

RESULTS

13 patients were analyzed. Seven patients reached the composite outcome with 3 deaths. The superimposed complication proved to be infectious in every case. The median lactate levels were at baseline (mmol/ l): capillary Mc0=5.2(2.16), venous Mv0=2.3(2.0) and arterial Ma0=1.8(1.7) and at follow-up (mmol/ l) capillary: Mc1=3.3(1.1), venous Mv1=1.8(1.8) and arterial Ma1=1.3(0.7). In nonparametric analysis, the absence of normalization of capillary lactate at follow-up was correlated well with poor outcomes (p=.05). This was not the case of arterial or venous lactate measurements. The positive lactate clearance was present in the majority of patients (83.3%) but it did not predict the outcomes (p=.435) and there was no correlation between the baseline lactate and the clinical outcome (p>.05).

CONCLUSION

In non intensive care settings, capillary lactate level could be a more sensitive method than the classical lactate measurement for predicting the outcomes of acute conditions, especially infectious. A persistently high lactate level rather than its initial value or clearance seems to correlate better with poorer outcomes.

ABBREVIATIONS

SSC = Surviving sepsis campaign, ED = Emergency department, ICU = intensive care unit, , POC = Point of care, ICC = inter class coefficient.

Recent advances in pathophysiology and biomarkers of sepsis-induced acute kidney injury

Sepsis is a complex clinical syndrome characterized by a systemic inflammatory response to an infective insult. This process often leads to widespread tissue injury and multiple organ dysfunction. In particular, the development of acute kidney injury (AKI) is one of the most frequent complications, which increases the complexity and cost of care, and is an independent risk factor for mortality. Previous suggestions highlighting systemic hypotension, renal vasoconstriction and ischaemia-reperfusion injury as the primary pathophysiological mechanisms involved in sepsis-induced AKI have been challenged. Recently it has been shown that sepsis-induced AKI occurs in the setting of microvascular dysfunction with release of microparticles, inflammation and energetic adaptation of highly metabolic organs to cellular stress. The intolerable high mortality rate associated with sepsis-induced AKI is partially explained by an incomplete understanding of its pathophysiology and a delay in diagnosis. The aim of this review is to focus on advances in understanding the sepsis pathophysiology, with particular attention to the fundamental mechanisms of sepsis-induced AKI and the potential diagnostic and prognostic markers involved.

Aspirin as a potential treatment in sepsis or acute respiratory distress syndrome

Sepsis is a common condition that is associated with significant morbidity, mortality and health-care cost. Pulmonary and non-pulmonary sepsis are common causes of the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The mortality from ARDS remains high despite protective lung ventilation, and currently there are no specific pharmacotherapies to treat sepsis or ARDS. Sepsis and ARDS are characterised by activation of the inflammatory cascade. Although there is much focus on the study of the dysregulated inflammation and its suppression, the associated activation of the haemostatic system has been largely ignored until recently. There has been extensive interest in the role that platelet activation can have in the inflammatory response through induction, aggregation and activation of leucocytes and other platelets. Aspirin can modulate multiple pathogenic mechanisms implicated in the development of multiple organ dysfunction in sepsis and ARDS. This review will discuss the role of the platelet, the mechanisms of action of aspirin in sepsis and ARDS, and aspirin as a potential therapy in treating sepsis and ARDS.

New paradigms in sepsis: from prevention to protection of failing microcirculation

Sepsis, also known as septicemia, is one of the 10 leading causes of death worldwide. The rising tide of sepsis due to bacterial, fungal and viral infections cannot be stemmed by current antimicrobial therapies and supportive measures. New paradigms for the mechanism and resolution of sepsis and consequences for sepsis survivors are emerging. Consistent with Benjamin Franklin's dictum 'an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure', sepsis can be prevented by vaccinations against pneumococci and meningococci. Recently, the NIH NHLBI Panel redefined sepsis as 'severe endothelial dysfunction syndrome in response to intravascular and extravascular infections causing reversible or irreversible injury to the microcirculation responsible for multiple organ failure'. Microvascular endothelial injury underlies sepsis-associated hypotension, edema, disseminated intravascular coagulation, acute respiratory distress syndrome and acute kidney injury. Microbial genome products trigger 'genome wars' in sepsis that reprogram the human genome and culminate in a 'genomic storm' in blood and vascular cells. Sepsis can be averted experimentally by endothelial cytoprotection through targeting nuclear signaling that mediates inflammation and deranged metabolism. Endothelial 'rheostats' (e.g. inhibitors of NF-κB, A20 protein, CRADD/RAIDD protein and microRNAs) regulate endothelial signaling. Physiologic 'extinguishers' (e.g. suppressor of cytokine signaling 3) can be replenished through intracellular protein therapy. Lipid mediators (e.g. resolvin D1) hasten sepsis resolution. As sepsis cases rose from 387 330 in 1996 to 1.1 million in 2011, and are estimated to reach 2 million by 2020 in the US, mortality due to sepsis approaches that of heart attacks and exceeds deaths from stroke. More preventive vaccines and therapeutic measures are urgently needed.

Recent knowledge on the pathophysiology of septic acute kidney injury: A narrative review

Sepsis is the commonest cause of acute kidney injury in critically ill patients. Its pathophysiology is complex and not well understood. Until recently, it was believed that kidney hypoperfusion is the major contributor of septic acute kidney injury. However, recent publications have improved our understanding on this topic. We now know that its mechanisms included the following: (1) renal macrocirculatory and microcirculatory disturbance, (2) surge of inflammatory markers and oxidative stress, (3) coagulation cascade activation, and (4) bioenergetics adaptive response with controlled cell-cycle arrest aiming to prevent cell death. Uncovering these complicated mechanisms may facilitate the development of more appropriate therapeutic measures in the future.

Sepsis-induced acute kidney injury revisited: pathophysiology, prevention and future therapies

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication in critically ill patients and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Sepsis is the most common cause of AKI. Considerable evidence now suggests that the pathogenic mechanisms of sepsis-induced AKI are different from those seen in other causes of AKI. This review focuses on the recent advances in this area and discusses possible therapeutic interventions that might derive from these new insights into the pathogenesis of sepsis-induced AKI.

RECENT FINDINGS

The traditional paradigm that sepsis-induced AKI arises from ischemia has been challenged by recent evidence that total renal blood flow in is not universally impaired during sepsis, and AKI can develop in the presence of normal or even increased renal blood flow. Animal and human studies suggest that adaptive responses of tubular epithelial cells to injurious signals are responsible for renal dysfunction. Simultaneously occurring renal inflammation and microcirculatory dysfunction further amplify these mechanisms.

SUMMARY

An understanding of the pathologic mechanisms of sepsis-induced AKI emphasizes the important role of maladaptive responses to the septic insult. Preventive and therapeutic measures should be based on counteracting these maladaptive responses of tubular epithelial cells, inflammation, and microvascular dysfunction.

Citrulline Supplementation Improves Organ Perfusion and Arginine Availability under Conditions with Enhanced Arginase Activity

Enhanced arginase-induced arginine consumption is believed to play a key role in the pathogenesis of sickle cell disease-induced end organ failure. Enhancement of arginine availability with l-arginine supplementation exhibited less consistent results; however, l-citrulline, the precursor of l-arginine, may be a promising alternative. In this study, we determined the effects of l-citrulline compared to l-arginine supplementation on arginine-nitric oxide (NO) metabolism, arginine availability and microcirculation in a murine model with acutely-enhanced arginase activity. The effects were measured in six groups of mice (n = 8 each) injected intraperitoneally with sterile saline or arginase (1000 IE/mouse) with or without being separately injected with l-citrulline or l-arginine 1 h prior to assessment of the microcirculation with side stream dark-field (SDF)-imaging or in vivo NO-production with electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. Arginase injection caused a decrease in plasma and tissue arginine concentrations. l-arginine and l-citrulline supplementation both enhanced plasma and tissue arginine concentrations in arginase-injected mice. However, only the citrulline supplementation increased NO production and improved microcirculatory flow in arginase-injected mice. In conclusion, the present study provides for the first time in vivo experimental evidence that l-citrulline, and not l-arginine supplementation, improves the end organ microcirculation during conditions with acute arginase-induced arginine deficiency by increasing the NO concentration in tissues.

Endotoxemic myocardial dysfunction: subendocardial collagen deposition related to coronary driving pressure

Sepsis impairs the autoregulation of myocardial microcirculatory blood flow, but whether this impairment is correlated with myocardial remodeling is unknown. This study investigated the role of coronary driving pressure (CDP) as a determinant of microcirculatory blood flow and myocardial fibrosis in endotoxemia and sepsis. The study is composed of two parts: a prospective experimental study and an observational clinical study. The experimental study was performed on male Wistar rats weighing 300 to 320 g. Endotoxemia was induced in rats by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection (10 mg·kg intraperitoneally). Hemodynamic evaluation was performed 1.5 to 24 h after LPS injection by measuring the mean arterial pressure, CDP, left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, dP/dtmax, and dP/dtmin. Microspheres were also infused into the left ventricle to measure myocardial blood flow, and myocardial tissue was histologically assessed to analyze collagen deposition. The CDP, mean arterial pressure, and myocardial blood flow were reduced by 55%, 30%, and 70%, respectively, in rats 1.5 h after LPS injection compared with phosphate buffer saline injection (P < 0.05). The CDP was significantly correlated with subendocardial blood flow (r = 0.73) and fibrosis (r = 0.8). Left ventricular function was significantly impaired in the LPS-treated rats, as demonstrated by dP/dtmax (6,155 ± 455 vs. 3,746 ± 406 mmHg·s, baseline vs. LPS; P < 0.05) and dP/dtmin (-5,858 ± 236 vs. -3,516 ± 436 mmHg·s, baseline vs. LPS; P < 0.05). The clinical study was performed on 28 patients with septic shock analyzed for CDP. The CDP data and histological slices were collected from septic patients. In addition, the clinical data demonstrated fibrosis and 45% CDP reduction in nonsurvivors compared with survivors. In conclusion, the left ventricular subendocardial blood flow was positively correlated with CDP, and higher CDP was negatively correlated with myocardial collagen deposition. Thus, early reductions in myocardial blood flow and CDP facilitate late myocardial fibrosis in rats and likely in humans.

Dexmedetomidine attenuates the microcirculatory derangements evoked by experimental sepsis

BACKGROUND

Dexmedetomidine, an α-2 adrenergic receptor agonist, has already been used in septic patients although few studies have examined its effects on microcirculatory dysfunction, which may play an important role in perpetuating sepsis syndrome. Therefore, the authors have designed a controlled experimental study to characterize the microcirculatory effects of dexmedetomidine in an endotoxemia rodent model that allows in vivo studies of microcirculation.

METHODS

After skinfold chamber implantation, 49 golden Syrian hamsters were randomly allocated in five groups: (1) control animals; (2) nonendotoxemic animals treated with saline; (3) nonendotoxemic animals treated with dexmedetomidine (5.0 μg kg h); (4) endotoxemic (lipopolysaccharide 1.0 mg/kg) animals treated with saline; and (5) endotoxemic animals treated with dexmedetomidine. Intravital microscopy of skinfold chamber preparations allowed quantitative analysis of microvascular variables and venular leukocyte rolling and adhesion. Mean arterial blood pressure, heart rate, arterial blood gases, and lactate concentrations were also documented.

RESULTS

Lipopolysaccharide administration increased leukocyte rolling and adhesion and decreased capillary perfusion. Dexmedetomidine significantly attenuated these responses: compared with endotoxemic animals treated with saline, those treated with dexmedetomidine had less leukocyte rolling (11.8 ± 7.2% vs. 24.3 ± 15.0%; P < 0.05) and adhesion (237 ± 185 vs. 510 ± 363; P < 0.05) and greater functional capillary density (57.4 ± 11.2% of baseline values vs. 45.9 ± 11.2%; P < 0.05) and erythrocyte velocity (68.7 ± 17.6% of baseline values vs. 54.4 ± 14.8%; P < 0.05) at the end of the experiment.

CONCLUSIONS

Dexmedetomidine decreased lipopolysaccharide-induced leukocyte-endothelial interactions in the hamster skinfold chamber microcirculation. This was accompanied by a significant attenuation of capillary perfusion deficits, suggesting that dexmedetomidine yields beneficial effects on endotoxemic animals' microcirculation.

Increased plasma arginase activity in human sepsis: association with increased circulating neutrophils

BACKGROUND

The pathophysiology of sepsis is incompletely understood. Impaired bioavailability of L-arginine, the substrate for NO synthesis, is linked to sepsis severity, and plasma arginase has been linked to hypoargininemia in other disease states. Circulating neutrophils are increased in sepsis and constitutively express arginase. We investigated whether plasma arginase activity is increased in human sepsis and whether this is associated with neutrophil numbers and activation.

METHODS

We used HPLC and a radiometric assay to evaluate plasma amino acid concentrations and plasma arginase activity. The relationships between plasma arginase activity, neutrophil count, neutrophil activity and plasma L-arginine and arginine metabolites were evaluated in 44 sepsis patients and 25 controls.

RESULTS

Plasma arginase activity was increased in sepsis patients, correlated with neutrophil count (r=0.44; p=0.003), but was independent of sepsis severity (SOFA or APACHE II score). Plasma HNP1-3 correlated with neutrophil count (r=0.31; p=0.04), was elevated in shock (median 180 ng/mL vs. 83 ng/mL sepsis without shock, p=0.0006) and correlated with SOFA score. Sepsis patients with high neutrophil counts had significantly higher plasma HNP1-3 and arginase activity and lower plasma L-arginine concentrations than those with lower neutrophil counts and controls.

CONCLUSIONS

Plasma arginase activity, potentially derived in part from neutrophil activation, is elevated in sepsis, and may contribute to impaired bioavailability of L-arginine in sepsis.

Milrinone attenuates arteriolar vasoconstriction and capillary perfusion deficits on endotoxemic hamsters

Background and Objective

Apart from its inotropic property, milrinone has vasodilator, anti-inflammatory and antithrombotic effects that could assist in the reversal of septic microcirculatory changes. This paper investigates the effects of milrinone on endotoxemia-related microcirculatory changes and compares them to those observed with the use of norepinephrine.

Materials and Methods

After skinfold chamber implantation procedures and endotoxemia induction by intravenous Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide administration (2 mg.kg-1), male golden Syrian hamsters were treated with two regimens of intravenous milrinone (0.25 or 0.5 μg.kg-1.min-1). Intravital microscopy of skinfold chamber preparations allowed quantitative analysis of microvascular variables. Macro-hemodynamic, biochemical, and hematological parameters and survival rate were also analyzed. Endotoxemic non-treated animals, endotoxemic animals treated with norepinephrine (0.2 μg.kg-1.min-1), and non-endotoxemic hamsters served as controls.

Results

Milrinone (0.5 μg.kg-1.min-1) was effective in reducing lipopolysaccharide-induced arteriolar vasoconstriction, capillary perfusion deficits, and inflammatory response, and in increasing survival. Norepinephrine treated animals showed the best mean arterial pressure levels but the worst functional capillary density values among all endotoxemic groups.

Conclusion

Our data suggests that milrinone yielded protective effects on endotoxemic animals’ microcirculation, showed anti-inflammatory properties, and improved survival. Norepinephrine did not recruit the microcirculation nor demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects.

Randomized controlled trial of inhaled nitric oxide for the treatment of microcirculatory dysfunction in patients with sepsis*

OBJECTIVES

Sepsis treatment guidelines recommend macrocirculatory hemodynamic optimization; however, microcirculatory dysfunction is integral to sepsis pathogenesis. We aimed to test the hypothesis that following macrocirculatory optimization, inhaled nitric oxide would improve microcirculation in patients with sepsis and that improved microcirculation would improve lactate clearance and multiple organ dysfunction.

DESIGN

Randomized, sham-controlled clinical trial.

SETTING

Single urban academic medical center.

PATIENTS

Adult patients with severe sepsis and systolic blood pressure less than 90 mm Hg despite intravascular volume expansion and/or serum lactate greater than or equal to 4.0 mmol/L.

INTERVENTIONS

After achievement of macrocirculatory resuscitation goals, we randomized patients to 6 hours of inhaled nitric oxide (40 ppm) or sham inhaled nitric oxide administration. We administered study drug via a specialized delivery device that concealed treatment allocation so that investigators and clinical staff remained blinded.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

We performed sidestream dark-field videomicroscopy of the sublingual microcirculation prior to and 2 hours after study drug initiation. The primary outcome measure was the change in microcirculatory flow index. Secondary outcomes were lactate clearance and change in Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score. We enrolled 50 patients (28 of 50 [56%] requiring vasopressor agents; 15 of 50 [30%] died). Although inhaled nitric oxide significantly raised plasma nitrite levels, it did not improve microcirculatory flow, lactate clearance, or organ dysfunction. In contrast to previous studies conducted during the earliest phase of resuscitation, we found no association between changes in microcirculatory flow and lactate clearance or organ dysfunction.

CONCLUSIONS

Following macrocirculatory optimization, inhaled nitric oxide at 40 ppm did not augment microcirculatory perfusion in patients with sepsis. Further, we found no association between microcirculatory perfusion and multiple organ dysfunction after initial resuscitation.

Vasospasm in cerebral inflammation

All forms of cerebral inflammation as found in bacterial meningitis, cerebral malaria, brain injury, and subarachnoid haemorrhage have been associated with vasospasm of cerebral arteries and arterioles. Vasospasm has been associated with permanent neurological deficits and death in subarachnoid haemorrhage and bacterial meningitis. Increased levels of interleukin-1 may be involved in vasospasm through calcium dependent and independent activation of the myosin light chain kinase and release of the vasoconstrictor endothelin-1. Another key factor in the pathogenesis of cerebral arterial vasospasm may be the reduced bioavailability of the vasodilator nitric oxide. Therapeutic trials in vasospasm related to inflammation in subarachnoid haemorrhage in humans showed a reduction of vasospasm through calcium antagonists, endothelin receptor antagonists, statins, and plasminogen activators. Combination of therapeutic modalities addressing calcium dependent and independent vasospasm, the underlying inflammation, and depletion of nitric oxide simultaneously merit further study in all conditions with cerebral inflammation in double blind randomised placebo controlled trials. Auxiliary treatment with these agents may be able to reduce ischemic brain injury associated with neurological deficits and increased mortality.

New directions for sepsis and septic shock research

BACKGROUND

Septic shock is a frequent complication in intensive care unit that can result in multiple organ failure and death. In addition, recent data suggested that severe sepsis and septic shock represent an economic burden. Therefore, septic shock is an important public health problem.

METHOD

In this review, we will focus on the recent evidences concerning the stages of septic shock, the complex macrocirculation and microcirculation relationship, and the importance of those evidences for future resuscitation goals and therapeutic strategies during late septic shock.

RESULT

Recently, two stages of septic shock are suggested. In early stage, hypovolemia is the main contributing factor. During this stage, macrocirculatory and microcirculatory changes run parallel, and fluid resuscitation seems to be effective in restoring the hemodynamic parameters. Late stage of septic shock is characterized by complex microcirculation and macrocirculation relationship.

CONCLUSIONS

Although early goal-directed therapy is a stepwise approach in the treatment of septic shock, tissue perfusion remains an important factor that contributes to septic shock outcome. Because appropriate monitoring of tissue perfusion is a matter of debt, the ideal therapeutic strategy remains a controversial issue that needs further investigations.

Levosimendan attenuates multiple organ injury and improves survival in peritonitis-induced septic shock: studies in a rat model

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of levosimendan on rodent septic shock induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP).

METHODS

Three hours after peritonitis-induced sepsis, male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to receive an intravenous infusion of levosimendan (1.2 μg/kg/min for 10 min and then 0.3 μg/kg/min for 6 h) or an equivalent volume of saline and vehicle (5% dextrose) solution.

RESULTS

The levosimendan-treated CLP animals had significantly higher arterial pressure and lower biochemical indices of liver and kidney dysfunction compared to the CLP animals (P < 0.05). Plasma interleukin-1β, nitric oxide and organ superoxide levels in the levosimendan-treated CLP group were less than those in CLP rats treated with vehicle (P < 0.05). In addition, the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in lung and caspase-3 expressions in spleen were significantly lower in the levosimendan-treated CLP group (P < 0.05). The administration of CLP rats with levosimendan was associated with significantly higher survival (61.9% vs. 40% at 18 h after CLP, P < 0.05). At postmortem examination, the histological changes and neutrophil filtration index in liver and lung were significantly attenuated in the levosimendan-treated CLP group (vs. CLP group, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

In this clinically relevant model of septic shock induced by fecal peritonitis, the administration of levosimendan had beneficial effects on haemodynamic variables, liver and kidney dysfunction, and metabolic acidosis. (1) Lower levels of interleukin-1β, nitric oxide and superoxide, (2) attenuation of iNOS and caspase-3 expressions, and (3) decreases of neutrophil infiltration by levosimendan in peritonitis-induced sepsis animals suggest that anti-inflammation and anti-apoptosis effects of levosimendan contribute to prolonged survival.

Overexpression of GTP cyclohydrolase 1 feedback regulatory protein is protective in a murine model of septic shock

Overproduction of nitric oxide (NO) by inducible NO synthase contributes toward refractory hypotension, impaired microvascular perfusion, and end-organ damage in septic shock patients. Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) is an essential NOS cofactor. GTP cyclohydrolase 1 (GCH1) is the rate-limiting enzyme for BH4 biosynthesis. Under inflammatory conditions, GCH1 activity and hence BH4 levels are increased, supporting pathological NOS activity. GCH1 activity can be controlled through allosteric interactions with GCH1 feedback regulatory protein (GFRP). We investigated whether overexpression of GFRP can regulate BH4 and NO production and attenuate cardiovascular dysfunction in sepsis. Sepsis was induced in mice conditionally overexpressing GFRP and wild-type littermates by cecal ligation and puncture. Blood pressure was monitored by radiotelemetry, and mesenteric blood flow was quantified by laser speckle contrast imaging. Blood biochemistry data were obtained using an iSTAT analyzer, and BH4 levels were measured in plasma and tissues by high-performance liquid chromatography. Increased BH4 and NO production and hypotension were observed in all mice, but the extents of these pathophysiological changes were attenuated in GFRP OE mice. Perturbations in blood biochemistry were similarly attenuated in GFRP OE compared with wild-type controls. These results suggest that GFRP overexpression regulates GCH1 activity during septic shock, which in turn limits BH4 bioavailability for iNOS. We conclude that the GCH1-GFRP axis is a critical regulator of BH4 and NO production and the cardiovascular derangements that occur in septic shock.

A unified theory of sepsis-induced acute kidney injury: inflammation, microcirculatory dysfunction, bioenergetics, and the tubular cell adaptation to injury

Given that the leading clinical conditions associated with acute kidney injury (AKI), namely, sepsis, major surgery, heart failure, and hypovolemia, are all associated with shock, it is tempting to attribute all AKI to ischemia on the basis of macrohemodynamic changes. However, an increasing body of evidence has suggested that in many patients, AKI can occur in the absence of overt signs of global renal hypoperfusion. Indeed, sepsis-induced AKI can occur in the setting of normal or even increased renal blood flow. Accordingly, renal injury may not be entirely explained solely on the basis of the classic paradigm of hypoperfusion, and thus other mechanisms must come into play. Herein, we put forward a "unifying theory" to explain the interplay between inflammation and oxidative stress, microvascular dysfunction, and the adaptive response of the tubular epithelial cell to the septic insult. We propose that this response is mostly adaptive in origin, that it is driven by mitochondria, and that it ultimately results in and explains the clinical phenotype of sepsis-induced AKI.

Pharmacological inhibition of DDAH1 improves survival, haemodynamics and organ function in experimental septic shock

The aim of the present study was to investigate the therapeutic effects of pharmacological inhibition of DDAH1 (dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase 1), an enzyme that metabolizes endogenously produced nitric oxide synthase inhibitors, principally ADMA (asymmetric dimethylarginine). The present study employs a series of rodent models to evaluate the effectiveness a DDAH1-selective inhibitor (L-257). Short-term models involved the development of endotoxaemia using lipopolysaccharide and long-term models involved the intraperitoneal administration of faecal slurry. In order to generate the most relevant model possible, following induction of severe sepsis, animals received appropriate fluid resuscitation and in some models vasopressor therapy. The effects of L-257 on survival, haemodynamics and organ function were subsequently assessed. Survival was significantly longer in all L-257 treatment groups (P<0.01) and no adverse effects on haemodynamics and organ function were observed following L-257 administration to either animals with sepsis or naïve animals. Haemodynamic performance was preserved and the noradrenaline dose required to maintain target blood pressure was reduced in the treated animals (P<0.01). Animals receiving L-257 had significantly increased plasma ADMA concentrations. Plasma nitrite/nitrate was reduced as was severity of sepsis-associated renal dysfunction. The degree of tachycardia was improved as were indices of tissue and microvascular perfusion. The results of the present study show that the selective DDAH-1 inhibitor L-257 improved haemodynamics, provided catecholamine sparing and prolonged survival in experimental sepsis. Further studies will determine its potential utility in human septic shock.

Left-sided superior vena cava and venous hyperoxia masquerading as inadvertent carotid artery catheterization

BACKGROUND

A persistent left-sided superior vena cava (PLSVC) is a rare, often asymptomatic, venous anomaly that may be first diagnosed during central venous catheterization. During chest radiograph interpretation, a PLSVC can be confused with inadvertent arterial catheterization.

CASE REPORT

We describe the presentation of a 45-year-old man with end-stage liver disease who required central venous catheterization for treatment of septic shock. An aberrantly placed catheter noted on chest radiograph and an elevated central venous oxygen saturation gave the appearance of inadvertent carotid artery catheterization. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: A persistent left-sided superior vena cava can masquerade as an inadvertent cannulation of the carotid artery during central line placement. It is important for emergency physicians to be aware of this possibility when evaluating a chest radiograph with an aberrantly placed catheter. Venous hyperoxia may further complicate attempts to differentiate between arterial and venous catheterization in patients with septic shock. After confirmatory tests, the emergency physician should consider removal of the catheter due to potential complications.

Increasing mean arterial blood pressure and heart rate with catecholaminergic drugs does not improve the microcirculation in children with congenital diaphragmatic hernia: a prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

To study whether dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine improve not only mean arterial blood pressure and heart rate but also microcirculatory perfusion in children with congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

DESIGN

Prospective observational cohort study from November 2009 to July 2012.

SETTING

ICU of a level III university children's hospital.

PATIENTS

Twenty-eight consecutive congenital diaphragmatic hernia newborns of whom seven did not receive any catecholaminergic support and 21 received dopamine as the drug of first choice. Fourteen of the latter also received either norepinephrine or epinephrine in addition to dopamine. Twenty-eight healthy neonates, matched for gestational age, postnatal age, and gender, served as controls.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Data were obtained before and after dopamine start and before and after norepinephrine or epinephrine start in case it was given. For the congenital diaphragmatic hernia without catecholaminergic support, data were obtained at admission days 1 and 2 and for the controls on day 1 of life. The buccal microcirculation was studied using Sidestream Dark Field imaging. Also macrocirculatory, respiratory, and biochemical variables were collected. Mean arterial blood pressure had improved after dopamine start, whereas the microcirculation had not. After the start of either norepinephrine or epinephrine, both blood pressure and heart rate had increased. However, the microcirculation failed to improve again. The microcirculation in the healthy controls was better than that in the congenital diaphragmatic hernia patients with catecholaminergic support. After cutoff values for abnormal microcirculation had been defined, abnormal microcirculation after dopamine start predicted the need for additional catecholaminergic support (area under the curve, 0.74-0.88; sensitivity, 77-77%; specificity, 69-77%). Likewise, microcirculatory impairment was associated with the need for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

CONCLUSIONS

Catecholaminergic drug support with dopamine, norepinephrine, and/or epinephrine improved macrocirculatory function but did not improve the microcirculation in neonates with congenital diaphragmatic hernia. The microcirculation was not only impaired but it also predicted poor outcome.

Asymmetric dimethylarginine and critical illness

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is an analog of arginine and functions as an endogenous inhibitor of the nitric oxide synthase, which forms nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is crucial for perfusion of vital organs and is an important signaling agent in the development of critical illness. The role of ADMA in the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying critical illness is widely studied in the last decades, and recently it has become clear that ADMA should not be overlooked by clinicians working at the ICU. The aim of this review is to describe new insights into the role of ADMA in critical illness and its clinical relevance.

RECENT FINDINGS

High levels of ADMA are found in critically ill patients, because of higher levels of protein methylation, increased rate of protein turnover, decreased activity of dimethylamine dimethylaminohydrolase, and impaired renal and hepatic clearance capacity. These high levels are an independent risk factor for cardiac dysfunction, organ failure, and ICU mortality. The arginine : ADMA ratio in particular is of clinical importance and the restoration of this ratio is expedient to restore several functions that are disturbed during critical illness.

SUMMARY

Elevated ADMA levels occur in critically ill patients, which is detrimental for morbidity and mortality. The arginine : ADMA ratio should be restored to maintain nitric oxide production and therewith improve the clinical outcome of the patient.

Ultrasound monitoring of RBC aggregation as a real-time marker of the inflammatory response in a cardiopulmonary bypass swine model

OBJECTIVES

In many pathological conditions, including high-risk surgery, the severity of the inflammatory response is related to the patient outcome. However, determining the patient inflammatory state presents difficulties, as markers are obtained intermittently through blood testing with long delay. RBC aggregation is a surrogate marker of inflammation that can be quantified with the ultrasound Structure Factor Size and Attenuation Estimator. The latter is proposed as a real-time inflammation monitoring technique for patient care.

DESIGN

Ten swine underwent a 90-minute cardiopulmonary bypass, and surveillance was maintained during 120 minutes in the postbypass period. To promote the inflammatory reaction, lipopolysaccharide was administrated two times prior to surgery in six of those swine (lipopolysaccharide group). During the whole procedure, the Structure Factor Size and Attenuation Estimator cellular imaging method displayed a RBC aggregation index (W) computed from images acquired within the pump circuit and the femoral vein. Interleukin-6, interleukin-10, C-reactive protein, haptoglobin, immunoglobulin G, and fibrinogen concentrations were measured at specific periods.

MAIN RESULTS

Compared with controls, the lipopolysaccharide group exhibited higher W within the pump circuit (p < 0.05). In the femoral vein, W was gradually amplified in the lipopolysaccharide group during cardiopulmonary bypass and the postbypass period (p < 0.05), whereas interleukin levels were higher in the lipopolysaccharide group but only at the end of cardiopulmonary bypass and beginning of postbypass (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Continuous RBC aggregation monitoring can characterize the evolving inflammatory response during and after cardiopulmonary bypass. The Structure Factor Size and Attenuation Estimator is proposed as a real-time noninvasive monitoring technique to anticipate inflammation-related complications during high-risk surgery or critical care situations. Because RBC aggregation promotes vascular resistance and thrombosis, W could also provide early information on vascular disorders in those clinical situations.

[Mitochondrial and microcirculatory distress syndrome in the critical patient. Therapeutic implications]

Mitochondrial and microcirculatory distress syndrome (MMDS) can occur during systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), and is characterized by cytopathic tissue hypoxia uncorrected by oxygen transport optimization, and associated with an acquired defect in the use of oxygen and energy production in mitochondria, leading to multiple organ dysfunction (MOD). We examine the pathogenesis of MMDS, new diagnostic methods, and recent therapeutic approaches adapted to each of the three phases in the evolution of the syndrome. In the initial phase, the aim is prevention and early reversal of mitochondrial dysfunction. Once the latter is established, the aim is to restore flow of the electron chain, mitochondrial respiration, and to avoid cellular energy collapse. Finally, in the third (resolution) stage, treatment should focus on stimulating mitochondrial biogenesis and the repair or replacement of damaged mitochondria.

S-nitrosylation therapy to improve oxygen delivery of banked blood

From the perspectives of disease transmission and sterility maintenance, the world's blood supplies are generally safe. However, in multiple clinical settings, red blood cell (RBC) transfusions are associated with adverse cardiovascular events and multiorgan injury. Because ∼85 million units of blood are administered worldwide each year, transfusion-related morbidity and mortality is a major public health concern. Blood undergoes multiple biochemical changes during storage, but the relevance of these changes to unfavorable outcomes is unclear. Banked blood shows reduced levels of S-nitrosohemoglobin (SNO-Hb), which in turn impairs the ability of stored RBCs to effect hypoxic vasodilation. We therefore reasoned that transfusion of SNO-Hb-deficient blood may exacerbate, rather than correct, impairments in tissue oxygenation, and that restoration of SNO-Hb levels would improve transfusion efficacy. Notably in mice, administration of banked RBCs decreased skeletal muscle pO2, but infusion of renitrosylated cells maintained tissue oxygenation. In rats, hemorrhage-induced reductions in muscle pO2 were corrected by SNO-Hb-repleted RBCs, but not by control, stored RBCs. In anemic awake sheep, stored renitrosylated, but not control RBCs, produced sustained improvements in O2 delivery; in anesthetized sheep, decrements in hemodynamic status, renal blood flow, and kidney function incurred following transfusion of banked blood were also prevented by renitrosylation. Collectively, our findings lend support to the idea that transfusions may be causally linked to ischemic events and suggest a simple approach to prevention (i.e., SNO-Hb repletion). If these data are replicated in clinical trials, renitrosylation therapy could have significant therapeutic impact on the care of millions of patients.

A Biomarker-Based Approach to Infectious Disease in the Pediatric Emergency Department

In modern pediatric emergency medicine, biomarker-based assays that enable quick bedside diagnostics and subsequent disease management can be valuable. There is a growing need for novel, disease-specific biomarkers that can improve the outcome of pediatric infectious diseases commonly encountered in the emergency department (ED). Viral respiratory infections, central nervous system infections, sepsis, and septic shock are acute disease states frequently encountered in the ED. In this review, we describe a host of novel biomarkers, including a diverse set of cytokines, chemokines, and nitric oxide–based metabolites. Based on disease pathophysiology, a rationale is provided for a molecular- or biomarker-based approach in the ED. Throughout this review, emphasis is placed on diagnostic rapidity because this relates directly to timeliness and quality of care in a busy ED. Once the biomarkers become more clinically available, in a rapid ED setting as bedside point-of-care assays, quality of care will be enhanced, not only by means of diagnostics but also in prognosticating severity of illness.

Oxygen therapy in critical illness: precise control of arterial oxygenation and permissive hypoxemia

OBJECTIVE

The management of hypoxemia in critically ill patients is challenging. Whilst the harms of tissue hypoxia are well recognized, the possibility of harm from excess oxygen administration, or other interventions targeted at mitigating hypoxemia, may be inadequately appreciated. The benefits of attempting to fully reverse arterial hypoxemia may be outweighed by the harms associated with high concentrations of supplemental oxygen and invasive mechanical ventilation strategies. We propose two novel related strategies for the management of hypoxemia in critically ill patients. First, we describe precise control of arterial oxygenation involving the specific targeting of arterial partial pressure of oxygen or arterial hemoglobin oxygen saturation to individualized target values, with the avoidance of significant variation from these levels. The aim of precise control of arterial oxygenation is to avoid the harms associated with inadvertent hyperoxia or hypoxia through careful and precise control of arterial oxygen levels. Secondly, we describe permissive hypoxemia: the acceptance of levels of arterial oxygenation lower than is conventionally tolerated in patients. The aim of permissive hypoxemia is to minimize the possible harms caused by restoration of normoxemia while avoiding tissue hypoxia. This review sets out to discuss the strengths and limitations of precise control of arterial oxygenation and permissive hypoxemia as candidate management strategies in hypoxemic critically ill patients.

DESIGN

We searched PubMed for references to "permissive hypoxemia/hypoxaemia" and "precise control of arterial oxygenation" as well as reference to "profound hypoxemia/hypoxaemia/hypoxia," "severe hypoxemia/hypoxaemia/hypoxia." We searched personal reference libraries in the areas of critical illness and high altitude physiology and medicine. We also identified large clinical studies in patients with critical illness characterized by hypoxemia such as acute respiratory distress syndrome.

SUBJECTS

Studies were selected that explored the physiology of hypoxemia in healthy volunteers or critically ill patients.

SETTING

The data were subjectively assessed and combined to generate the narrative.

RESULTS

Inadequate tissue oxygenation and excessive oxygen administration can be detrimental to outcome but safety thresholds lack definition in critically ill patients. Precise control of arterial oxygenation provides a rational approach to the management of arterial oxygenation that reflects recent clinical developments in other settings. Permissive hypoxemia is a concept that is untested clinically and requires robust investigation prior to consideration of implementation. Both strategies will require accurate monitoring of oxygen administration and arterial oxygenation. Effective, reliable measurement of tissue oxygenation along with the use of selected biomarkers to identify suitable candidates and monitor harm will aid the development of permissive hypoxemia as viable clinical strategy.

CONCLUSIONS

Implementation of precise control of arterial oxygenation may avoid the harms associated with excessive and inadequate oxygenation. However, at present there is no direct evidence to support the immediate implementation of permissive hypoxemia and a comprehensive evaluation of its value in critically ill patients should be a high research priority.

The microcirculation: linking trauma and coagulopathy

Survival after severe traumatic shock can be complicated by a number of pathophysiologic processes that ensue after the initial trauma. One of these is trauma-induced coagulopathy (TIC) whose onset may occur before initial fluid resuscitation. The pathogenesis of TIC has not yet been fully elaborated, but evolving evidence appears to link severe tissue hypoxia and damage to the endothelium as key factors, which evolve into measurable structural and biochemical changes of the endothelium resulting in a coagulopathic state. This paper will provide a general review of these linkages and identify knowledge gaps as well as suggest new approaches and areas of investigation, which may both limit the development of TIC as well as produce insights into its pathophysiology. A better understanding of these issues will be necessary in order to advance the practice of remote damage control resuscitation.

Nitric oxide and its metabolites in the critical phase of illness: rapid biomarkers in the making

The potential of nitric oxide (NO) as a rapid assay biomarker, one that could provide a quantum leap in acute care, remains largely untapped. NO plays a crucial role as bronchodilator, vasodilator and inflammatory mediator. The main objective of this review is to demonstrate how NO is a molecule of heavy interest in various acute disease states along the emergency department and critical care spectrum: respiratory infections, central nervous system infections, asthma, acute kidney injury, sepsis, septic shock, and myocardial ischemia, to name just a few. We discuss how NO and its oxidative metabolites, nitrite and nitrate, are readily detectable in several body compartments and fluids, and as such they are associated with many of the pathophysiological processes mentioned above. With methods such as high performance liquid chromatography and chemiluminescence these entities are relatively easy and inexpensive to analyze. Emphasis is placed on diagnostic rapidity, as this relates directly to quality of care in acute care situations. Further, a rationale is provided for more bench, translational and clinical research in the field of NO biomarkers for such settings. Developing standard protocols for the aforementioned disease states, centered on concentrations of NO and its metabolites, can prove to revolutionize diagnostics and prognostication along a spectrum of clinical care. We present a strong case for developing these biomarkers more as point-of-care assays with potential of color gradient test strips for rapid screening of disease entities in acute care and beyond. This will be relevant to global health.

Stimulators of soluble guanylyl cyclase: future clinical indications

BACKGROUND

Soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) is expressed in mammalian cytoplasm and catalyzes the synthesis of the second messenger guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cGMP) involved in important physiological functions such as relaxation of vascular smooth muscle, inhibition of platelet aggregation, modulation of inflammation, and control of vascular permeability. sGC is the intracellular receptor for nitric oxide (NO) and the active moiety in traditional organic nitrate therapy, recently as an inhalant in the intensive care unit and experimentally in improving microcirculatory flow in shock. However, dysfunction of the heme moiety on sGC occurs in a number of cardiovascular diseases, which reduces NO effectiveness.

METHODS

In this review, we examine animal studies and early clinical trials on agents that can directly stimulate sGC and may have future clinical application in cardiovascular disease and in perioperative care.

CONCLUSIONS

Animal and early clinical studies have shown that sGC stimulator agents have great promise for treating cardiopulmonary disorders and may also have a role in modulating the inflammatory response observed in perioperative care.

Enoxaparin sodium prevents intestinal microcirculatory dysfunction in endotoxemic rats

INTRODUCTION

During severe sepsis or septic shock, activation of the inflammatory and coagulatory systems can result in microcirculatory dysfunction as well as microvascular thrombosis, culminating in multiple organ dysfunction and death. Enoxaparin can inhibit factor Xa and attenuate endothelial damage. The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of enoxaparin on intestinal microcirculation in endotoxemic rats.

METHODS

Thirty male Wistar rats were divided into the following three groups: sham operated (OP); lipopolysaccharide (LPS); and LPS + Enoxaparin group. The rats received a midline laparotomy to exteriorize a segment of terminal ileum for microcirculation examination by full-field laser perfusion imager and sidestream dark field video microscope on mucosa, muscle, and Peyer's patch. In the LPS and LPS + Enoxaparin groups, 15 mg/kg LPS was administered intravenously to induce endotoxemia, and 400 IU/kg enoxaparin sodium was also administered in the LPS + Enoxaparin group.

RESULTS

At 240 minutes, the mean arterial pressure was higher in the LPS + Enoxaparin group than in the LPS group (93 ± 9 versus 64 ± 16 mm Hg, P < 0.001). Microcirculatory blood flow intensity was higher in the LPS + Enoxaparin group than in the LPS group as follows: mucosa (1085 ± 215 versus 617 ± 214 perfusion unit [PU], P < 0.001); muscle (760 ± 202 versus 416 ± 223 PU, P = 0.001); and Peyer's patch (1,116 ± 245 versus 570 ± 280 PU, P < 0.001). Enoxaparin inhibited LPS-induced reduction in perfused small vessel density and increase in heterogeneity of microcirculation.

CONCLUSIONS

Enoxaparin can prevent intestinal microcirculatory dysfunction in endotoxemic rats by preventing microvascular thrombosis formation and maintaining normal mean arterial pressure.

Brachial artery reactivity in patients with severe sepsis: an observational study

Introduction

Ultrasound measurements of brachial artery reactivity in response to stagnant ischemia provide estimates of microvascular function and conduit artery endothelial function. We hypothesized that brachial artery reactivity would independently predict severe sepsis and severe sepsis mortality.

Methods

This was a combined case-control and prospective cohort study. We measured brachial artery reactivity in 95 severe sepsis patients admitted to the medical and surgical intensive care units of an academic medical center and in 52 control subjects without acute illness. Measurements were compared in severe sepsis patients versus control subjects and in severe sepsis survivors versus nonsurvivors. Multivariable analyses were also conducted.

Results

Hyperemic velocity (centimeters per cardiac cycle) and flow-mediated dilation (percentage) were significantly lower in severe sepsis patients versus control subjects (hyperemic velocity: severe sepsis = 34 (25 to 48) versus controls = 63 (52 to 81), P < 0.001; flow-mediated dilation: severe sepsis = 2.65 (0.81 to 4.79) versus controls = 4.11 (3.06 to 6.78), P < 0.001; values expressed as median (interquartile range)). Hyperemic velocity, but not flow-mediated dilation, was significantly lower in hospital nonsurvivors versus survivors (hyperemic velocity: nonsurvivors = 25 (16 to 28) versus survivors = 39 (30 to 50), P < 0.001; flow-mediated dilation: nonsurvivors = 1.90 (0.68 to 3.41) versus survivors = 2.96 (0.91 to 4.86), P = 0.12). Lower hyperemic velocity was independently associated with hospital mortality in multivariable analysis (odds ratio = 1.11 (95% confidence interval = 1.04 to 1.19) per 1 cm/cardiac cycle decrease in hyperemic velocity; P = 0.003).

Conclusions

Brachial artery hyperemic blood velocity is a noninvasive index of microvascular function that independently predicts mortality in severe sepsis. In contrast, brachial artery flow-mediated dilation, reflecting conduit artery endothelial function, was not associated with mortality in our severe sepsis cohort. Brachial artery hyperemic velocity may be a useful measurement to identify patients who could benefit from novel therapies designed to reverse microvascular dysfunction in severe sepsis and to assess the physiologic efficacy of these treatments.

Estradiol receptors agonists induced effects in rat intestinal microcirculation during sepsis

The steroid hormone estradiol is suggested to play a protective role in intestinal injury during systemic inflammation (sepsis). Our aim was to determine the effects of specific estradiol receptor (ER-α and ER-ß) agonists on the intestinal microcirculation during experimental sepsis. Male and sham ovariectomized female rats were subjected to sham colon ascendens stent peritonitis (CASP), and they were compared to male and ovariectomized female rats underwent CASP and either estradiol receptor α (ER-α) agonist propyl pyrazole triol (PPT), estradiol receptor ß (ER-ß) agonist diarylpropiolnitrile (DPN), or vehicle treatment. Intravital microscopy was performed, which is sufficiently sensitive to measure changes in the functional capillary density (FCD) as well as the major steps in leukocyte recruitment (rolling and adhesion). The leukocyte extravasations were also quantified by using histological paraffin sections of formalin fixed intestine. We found that either DPN (ER-β) or PPT (ER-α) significantly reduced (P<0.05) sepsis-induced leukocyte-endothelial interaction (rolling, adherent leukocytes and neutrophil extravasations) and improved the intestinal muscular FCD. [PPT: Female; Leukocyte rolling (n/min): V(3) 3.7±0.7 vs 0.8±0.2, Leukocyte adhesion(n/mm(2)): V(3) 131.3±22.6 vs 57.2±13.5, Neutrophil extravasations (n/10000 μm(2)): 3.1±0.7 vs 6 ±1. Male; Leukocyte adhesion (n/mm(2)): V(1) 154.8±19.2 vs 81.3±11.2, V(3) 115.5±23.1 vs 37.8±12]. [DPN: Female; neutrophil extravasations (n/10000 μm(2)) 3.8±0.6 vs 6 ±1. Male; Leukocyte adhesion (n/mm(2)) V(1) 154.8±19.2 vs 70±10.5, V(3) 115.5±23.1 vs 52.8±9.6].Those results suggest that the observed effects of estradiol receptors on different phases of leukocytes recruitment with the improvement of the functional capillary density could partially explain the previous demonstrated salutary effects of estradiol on the intestinal microcirculation during sepsis. The observed activity of this class of compounds could open up a new avenue of research into the potential treatment of sepsis.

Evaluation of asymmetric dimethylarginine, arginine, and carnitine metabolism in pediatric sepsis

OBJECTIVE

Increased plasma concentrations of the endogenous nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, asymmetric dimethylarginine, decreased arginine bioavailability, and mitochondrial dysfunction have been reported in adult sepsis. We studied whether asymmetric dimethylarginine, arginine, and carnitine metabolism (a measure of mitochondrial dysfunction) are altered in pediatric sepsis and whether these are clinically useful biomarkers.

DESIGN

: Prospective, observational study.

SETTING

Pediatric intensive care unit at an academic medical center.

PATIENTS

: Ninety patients ≤ 18 yrs old, 30 with severe sepsis or septic shock, compared with 30 age-matched febrile and 30 age-matched healthy control subjects.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Plasma asymmetric dimethylarginine and whole blood arginine, citrulline, ornithine, and acylcarnitine:free carnitine ratio were measured daily for septic patients and once for control subjects using tandem mass spectrometry. Plasma asymmetric dimethylarginine concentration (median; interquartile range µmol/L) on day 1 was lower in severe sepsis and septic shock (0.38; 0.30-0.56) compared with febrile (0.45; 0.40-0.59) and healthy (0.60; 0.54-0.67) control subjects (p < .001), although decreased asymmetric dimethylarginine was predominantly found in neutropenic patients. Day 1 arginine was lower in septic (10; interquartile range, 7-20 µmol/L) compared with healthy patients (32; interquartile range, 23-40; p < .001), and the arginine:ornithine ratio was decreased in sepsis, indicating increased arginase activity (an alternative pathway for arginine metabolism). The arginine:asymmetric dimethylarginine and acylcarnitine:free carnitine ratios did not differ between septic and control patients. Asymmetric dimethylarginine was inversely correlated with organ dysfunction by Pediatric Logistic Organ Dysfunction score (r = -0.50, p = .009), interleukin-6 (r = -0.55, p = .01), and interleukin-8 (r = -0.52, p = .03) on admission. Arginine, arginine:asymmetric dimethylarginine, and acylcarnitine:free carnitine were not associated with organ dysfunction or outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Asymmetric dimethylarginine was decreased in pediatric sepsis and was inversely associated with inflammation and organ dysfunction. This suggests that inhibition of nitric oxide synthase by asymmetric dimethylarginine accumulation is unlikely to impact sepsis pathophysiology in septic children despite decreased arginine bioavailability. We did not find an association of asymmetric dimethylarginine with altered carnitine metabolism nor were asymmetric dimethylarginine, arginine, and acylcarnitine:free carnitine useful as clinical biomarkers.

Microvascular response to red blood cell transfusion in trauma patients

Trauma patients are often transfused allogeneic red blood cells (RBCs) in an effort to augment tissue oxygen delivery. However, the effect of RBC transfusion on microvascular perfusion in this patient population is not well understood. To this end, we investigated the effect of RBC transfusion on sublingual microvascular perfusion in trauma patients. Sublingual microcirculation was imaged at bedside with a sidestream dark-field illumination microscope before and after transfusion of one RBC unit in hemodynamically stable, anemic trauma patients. The perfused proportion of capillaries (PPC) before and after transfusion was determined, and the percent change in capillary perfusion following transfusion (ΔPPC) calculated. Sublingual microcirculation was observed in 30 patients. Mean age was 47 (SD, 21) years, mean Injury Severity Score was 29 (SD, 16), and mean pretransfusion hemoglobin was 7.5 (SD, 0.9) g/dL. No patients had a mean arterial pressure of less than 65 mmHg (mean, 89 [SD, 17] mmHg) or lactate of greater than 2.5 mmol/L (mean, 1.1 [SD, 0.3] mmol/L). Following transfusion, ΔPPC ranged from +68% to -36% and was found to inversely correlate significantly with pretransfusion PPC (Spearman r = -0.63, P = 0.0002). Pretransfusion PPC may be selectively deranged in otherwise stable trauma patients. Patients with relatively altered baseline PPC tend to demonstrate improvement in perfusion following transfusion, whereas those with relatively normal perfusion at baseline tend to demonstrate either no change or, in fact, a decline in PPC. Bedside sublingual imaging may have the potential to detect subtle perfusion defects and ultimately inform clinical decision making with respect to transfusion.

Clinical review: Clinical imaging of the sublingual microcirculation in the critically ill--where do we stand?

A growing body of evidence exists associating depressed microcirculatory function and morbidity and mortality in a wide array of clinical scenarios. It has been suggested that volume replacement therapy using fluids and/or blood in combination with vasoactive agents to modulate macro- and microvascular perfusion might be essential for resuscitation of severely septic patients. Even after interventions effectively optimizing macrocirculatory hemodynamics, however, high mortality rates still persist in critically ill and especially in septic patients. Therefore, rather than limiting therapy to macrocirculatory targets alone, microcirculatory targets could be incorporated to potentially reduce mortality rates in these critically ill patients. In the present review we first provide a brief history of clinical imaging of the microcirculation and describe how microcirculatory imaging has been of prognostic value in intensive care patients. We then give an overview of therapies potentially improving the microcirculation in critically ill patients and propose a clinical trial aimed at demonstrating that therapy targeting improvement of the microcirculation results in improved organ function in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock. We end with some recent technological advances in clinical microcirculatory image acquisition and analysis.

Discordance between microcirculatory alterations and arterial pressure in patients with hemodynamic instability

PURPOSE

Recent studies reported that microcirculatory blood flow alterations occur in patients with circulatory shock independent of arterial pressure but typically lack baseline microcirculatory data before the insult and after recovery. We selected cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) patients with expected and rapidly reversible hemodynamic instability to test the hypothesis that microcirculatory alterations can occur independent of mean arterial pressure (MAP).

METHODS

Prospective observational study using sidestream darkfield videomicroscopy to measure sublingual microcirculatory flow preoperative (PRE), postoperatively after CPB (POST), and after recovery (REC). We determined the microcirculatory flow index (MFI) at each time point, blinded to all clinical data and compared change in MFI and MAP across time points using analysis of variance adjusted for multiple comparisons.

RESULTS

We enrolled 20 subjects, 17 of 20 required inotrope/vasopressor agents at CPB discontinuation, 7 of 20 were on inotrope/vasopressor agents at the time of imaging, 20 of 20 were receiving continuous nitroglycerin. We observed an increase in post-CPB MFI (PRE, 2.16 ± 0.29; POST, 2.45 ± 0.62; REC, 2.26 ± 0.25; P < .01) without a concomitant increase in MAP.

CONCLUSION

In this cohort of patients with hemodynamic instability, we observed discordance between microcirculatory blood flow and arterial pressure. These data support the concept that microcirculatory blood flow indices can yield physiologic information distinct from macrocirculatory hemodynamic parameters.