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Combining Serum Procalcitonin Level, Thromboelastography, and Platelet Count to Predict Short-term Development of Septic Shock in Intensive Care Unit

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Abstract

Objective

Despite the recent advances in diagnosis and treatment, sepsis continues to lead to high morbidity and mortality. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment are essential to save lives. However, most biomarkers can only help to diagnose sepsis, but cannot predict the development of septic shock in high-risk patients. The present study determined whether the combined measurement of procalcitonin (PCT), thromboelastography (TEG) and platelet (PLT) count can predict the development of septic shock.

Methods

A retrospective study was conducted on 175 septic patients who were admitted to the intensive care unit between January 2017 and February 2021. These patients were divided into two groups: 73 patients who developed septic shock were assigned to the septic shock group, while the remaining 102 patients were assigned to the sepsis group. Then, the demographic, clinical and laboratory data were recorded, and the predictive values of PCT, TEG and PLT count for the development of septic shock were analyzed.

Results

Compared to the sepsis group, the septic shock group had statistically lower PLT count and TEG measurements in the R value, K value, α angle, maximum amplitude, and coagulation index, but had longer prothrombin time (DT), longer activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), and higher PCT levels. Furthermore, the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score was higher in the septic shock group. The multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that PCT, TEG and PLT count were associated with the development of septic shock. The area under the curve analysis revealed that the combined measurement of PCT, TEG and PLT count can be used to predict the development of septic shock with higher accuracy, when compared to individual measurements.

Conclusion

The combined measurement of PCT, TEG and PLT count is a novel approach to predict the development of septic shock in high-risk patients.

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Author notes

  1. The authors contributed equally to this study.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Critical Care Medicine, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, 250021, China

    Xue-song Zhao, Zhao-li Meng, Tuo Zhang, Hong-na Yang, Ji-cheng Zhang, Wei Fang, Chun-ting Wang & Man Chen

  2. Department of Critical Care Medicine, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250021, China

    Xue-song Zhao, Zhao-li Meng, Tuo Zhang, Hong-na Yang, Ji-cheng Zhang, Wei Fang, Chun-ting Wang & Man Chen

  3. The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University (Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital), Jinan, 250021, China

    Xue-song Zhao

Authors
  1. Xue-song Zhao
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  2. Zhao-li Meng
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  3. Tuo Zhang
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  4. Hong-na Yang
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  5. Ji-cheng Zhang
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  6. Wei Fang
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  7. Chun-ting Wang
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  8. Man Chen
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Chun-ting Wang or Man Chen.

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The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

The study was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81903086), and the Shandong Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China (No. ZR2019QH014).

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Zhao, Xs., Meng, Zl., Zhang, T. et al. Combining Serum Procalcitonin Level, Thromboelastography, and Platelet Count to Predict Short-term Development of Septic Shock in Intensive Care Unit. CURR MED SCI 43, 86–92 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11596-022-2689-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11596-022-2689-y

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