Myocardial Depression in Sepsis: Beneficial Adaptation or Sequelae that Requires Treatment?

First Sampled High-Sensitive Cardiac Troponin T is Associated With One-Year Mortality in Sepsis Patients and 30- to 365-Day Mortality in Sepsis Survivors

BACKGROUND

Previous studies using cardiac troponin levels to investigate the relationship between myocardial injury and mortality in sepsis patients have been conflicting. Our aim was to investigate the relationship between plasma high-sensitive cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) level and 30-day and 1-year mortality in sepsis patients and 30- to 365-day mortality in sepsis survivors.

METHODS

Sepsis patients requiring vasopressor support and admitted to our institution between 2012 and 2021 (n = 586) were included in this retrospective cohort study. Elevated hs-cTnT values (≥15 ng/L) were divided into quartiles (Q): Q1 15-35 ng/L; Q2 36-61 ng/L; Q3 62-125 ng/L; Q4 126-8630 ng/L. Stratified Kaplan-Meier curves and multivariable Cox regression were used for survival analyses.

RESULTS

First sampled hs-cTnT was elevated in 529 (90%) patients. One-year mortality was 45% (n = 264). Increasing level of hs-cTnT was independently associated with higher adjusted hazard ratios (HR) for 1-year mortality compared with normal levels: Q1 HR 2.9 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03-8.1); Q2 HR 3.5 (95% CI, 1.2-9.8); Q3 HR 4.8 (95% CI, 1.7-13.4); Q4 HR 5.7 (95% CI, 2.1-16). In acute phase survivors, first sampled hs-cTnT was an independent predictor of 30- to 365-day mortality (HR 1.3; 95% CI, 1.1-1.6 per loge hs-cTnT).

CONCLUSIONS

First sampled plasma hs-cTnT in critically ill sepsis patients was independently associated with 30-day and 1-year mortality. Importantly, first sampled hs-cTnT was associated with mortality during the convalescence phase (30- to 365-day) and could be a feasible marker to identify acute phase survivors at high risk of death.

Landiolol: An Ultra-Short-Acting β-Blocker

Landiolol is an ultra-short-acting, highly cardio-selective, β-blocker, that is currently approved for clinical use in Japan and the European Union, for the treatment of tachyarrhythmias. Landiolol is highly cardio-selective with high β1 selectivity and receptor affinity, resulting in a more potent chronotropic effect and less potent hypotensive effect compared with other β-blockers such as esmolol and propranolol. Based on the recent randomized controlled trials, low-dose landiolol may have a beneficial role in the prevention and management of postoperative atrial fibrillation following noncardiac and cardiac surgeries, including on-pump and off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting and valve surgery. Additionally, landiolol may have potential utility for myocardial salvage and prevention of postpercutaneous coronary intervention myocardial infarction. Furthermore, the use of landiolol may also have a therapeutic effect for rate control of sepsis-related tachyarrhythmias. Positive results of recent randomized controlled trials should continue to inspire clinicians to conduct further, larger studies, to find new potential clinical applications for this novel drug.

Protection of melatonin treatment and combination with traditional antibiotics against septic myocardial injury

BACKGROUND

Heart failure is a common complication of sepsis with a high mortality rate. It has been reported that melatonin can attenuate septic injury due to various properties. On the basis of previous reports, this study will further explore the effects and mechanisms of melatonin pretreatment, posttreatment, and combination with antibiotics in the treatment of sepsis and septic myocardial injury.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Our results showed that melatonin pretreatment showed an obvious protective effect on sepsis and septic myocardial injury, which was related to the attenuation of inflammation and oxidative stress, the improvement of mitochondrial function, the regulation of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS), and the activation of the AMPK signaling pathway. In particular, AMPK serves as a key effector for melatonin-initiated myocardial benefits. In addition, melatonin posttreatment also had a certain degree of protection, while its effect was not as remarkable as that of pretreatment. The combination of melatonin and classical antibiotics had a slight but limited effect. RNA-seq detection clarified the cardioprotective mechanism of melatonin.

CONCLUSION

Altogether, this study provides a theoretical basis for the application strategy and combination of melatonin in septic myocardial injury.

An Overview on Mitochondrial-Based Therapies in Sepsis-Related Myocardial Dysfunction: Mitochondrial Transplantation as a Promising Approach

Sepsis is defined as a life-threatening organ failure due to dysregulated host response to infection. Despite current advances in our knowledge about sepsis, it is still considered as a major global health challenge. Myocardial dysfunction is a well-defined manifestation of sepsis which is related to worse outcomes in septic patients. Given that the heart is a mitochondria-rich organ and the normal function of mitochondria is essential for successful modulation of septic response, the contribution of mitochondrial damage in sepsis-related myocardial dysfunction has attracted the attention of many scientists. It is widely accepted that mitochondrial damage is involved in sepsis-related myocardial dysfunction; however, effective and potential treatment modalities in clinical setting are still lacking. Mitochondrial-based therapies are potential approaches in sepsis treatment. Although various therapeutic strategies have been used for mitochondrial function improvement, their effects are limited when mitochondria undergo irreversible alterations under septic challenge. Therefore, application of more effective approaches such as mitochondrial transplantation has been suggested. This review highlights the crucial role of mitochondrial damage in sepsis-related myocardial dysfunction, then provides an overview on mitochondrial-based therapies and current approaches to mitochondrial transplantation as a novel strategy, and proposes future directions for more researches in this field.

Comparison of dobutamine and levosimendan for treatment of sepsis-induced cardiac dysfunction: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Levosimendan and dobutamine are extensively used to treat sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy. Previous studies on whether levosimendan is superior to dobutamine are still controversial. We performed a protocol for systematic review and metaanalysis to compare the efficacy and safety of levosimendan versus dobutamine for the treatment of sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy.

METHODS

This protocol follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses protocol statement. We will search the following databases: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, Weipu Journal Database, and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database. The search time will be set from database establishment to February 2022. After literature screening, 2 reviewers will extract data from the respects of general information, methodology, and results. Risk of bias is assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool for randomized controlled trials. We will apply RevMan 5.4 software for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

The results will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal once completed.

CONCLUSION

Septic patients with myocardial dysfunction may partly benefit from levosimendan than dobutamine, mainly embodied in cardiac function improvement.