Objective: To study the phasic changes of the number of circulating endothelial cells (CEC) and endothelial microparticles (EMP) during the process of sepsis.
Methods: Thirty-one patients with sepsis were divided into mild group (<9), moderate group (9-15) and severe group (>15) according to the acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II) scores after onset, and each group was further divided into survivors and non-survivors.The level of CEC, EMP and pro-inflammatory cytokines were determined on 1, 2, 3, 7, 14 days after onset.
Results: (1)The level of EMP, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) in the severe group were significantly higher than the mild group and moderate group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The number of CEC in the severe group was significantly lower than the mild group and moderate group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). (2)The levels of CEC, EMP in the non-survivor and the survivor group were significantly higher with sepsis increased significantly; and the levels of EMP, pro-inflammatory in the non-survivor group were significantly higher than those of the survivor group (P<0.05 or P<0.01), but the levels of CEC, IL-4 and IL-10 in non-survivors were significantly lower than the survivors (P<0.05 or P<0.01).
Conclusion: The levels of CEC and EMP in patients with sepsis increased significantly. They can not only serve as an index to reflect the severity of sepsis, but also have a prognostic value in patients with sepsis.