Interleukin-18 and miR-130a in severe sepsis patients with thrombocytopenia

Figures & data

Table 1 Clinical characteristics of patients

Variable	All (60 patients)	SST (28 patients)	SS (32 patients)
Sex (male/female)	29/31	13/15	16/16
Age, median (range), years	61 (19–82)	60 (19–74)	63 (23–82)
APACHE II score, median (range)	22 (2–45)	21 (2–43)	24 (3–45)
SOFA score, median (range)	7.2 (0–17)	7.0 (0–16)	8.0 (0–17)
CRP, mg/dL, median (range)	9.6 (2.3–34.6)	10 (2.3–34.6)	9.4 (3.0–29.8)
Creatinine, median (range), mg/dL	1.2 (0–14)	1.0 (0.4–14)	1.3 (0–10.9)
Albumin, median (range), mg/dL	27.3 (16.0–51.8)	28.6 (16.0–51.8)	26.4 (17.0–50.3)
WBC, median (range), ×10^3/μL	11.0 (2.4–31.0)	10.1 (3.0–31.0)	11.8 (2.4–28.5)
PLT, median (range), ×10^3/μL	–	20.0 (10.0–67.0)	124 (101.0–452.0)*
FDP (mean ± SD), μg/L	16.7±5.2	17.7±2.7	15.9±5.4
PAI-1 (mean ± SD), ng/mL	28.6±3.5	30.6±3.4	25.3±7.2
Fibrinogen (mean ± SD), g/L	4.9±1.6	5.1±2.2	4.8±1.2
PT (mean ± SD), seconds	–	13.97±2.86	16.57±2.98*

Note:

* P<0.001.

Abbreviations: APACHE II score, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score; CRP, C-reactive protein; FDP, fibrin-fibrinogen degradation product; PAI-1, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1; PLT, platelet count; PT, prothrombin time; SOFA score, sequential organ failure assessment score; SS, severe sepsis without thrombocytopenia; SST, severe sepsis with thrombocytopenia; WBC, white blood cell count.

Table 2 Baseline characteristics and 28-day mortality of patients

Variable	All (60 patients)	SST (28 patients)	SS (32 patients)
Primary infection site
Respiratory	30 (50%)	14 (50%)	16 (50%)
Abdominal	10 (16.7%)	5 (17.9%)	5 (15.6%)
Urinary tract	7 (11.7%)	3 (10.7%)	4 (12.4%)
Bloodstream	6 (10%)	3 (10.7%)	3 (9.4%)
Others	4 (6.6%)	2 (7.1%)	2 (6.3%)
Unknown	3 (5%)	1 (3.6%)	2 (6.3%)
Microorganism identified
Gram-negative bacilli	25 (41.6%)	13 (46.4%)	12 (37.5%)
Gram-positive cocci	20 (33.3%)	9 (32.1%)	11 (34.5%)
Fungus	2 (3.3%)	1 (3.6%)	1 (3.1%)
Intracellular germs	2 (3.3%)	1 (3.6%)	1 (3.1%)
Others	10 (6.5%)	4 (14.3%)	6 (18.8%)
Existence of shock
Yes	15 (25%)	11 (39.3%)*	4 (12.5%)*
No	45 (75%)	17 (60.7%)*	28 (87.5%)*
The number of organ dysfunction
1	20 (33.3%)	8 (28.6%)	12 (37.4%)
2	20 (33.3%)	10 (35.7%)	10 (31.3%)
≥3	20 (33.4%)	10 (35.7%)	10 (31.3%)
The kind of organ dysfunction
Arterial hypoxemia	14 (23.3%)	7 (25%)	7 (21.9%)
Arterial hypotension	49 (81.7%)	22 (78.6%)	27 (84.4%)
Acute respiratory failure	14 (23.3%)	6 (21.4%)	8 (25%)
Acute renal failure	21 (35%)	9 (32.1%)	12 (37.5%)
Impaired neurological status	13 (21.7%)	7 (25%)	6 (18.8%)
Acute liver failure	10 (16.7%)	5 (17.9%)	5 (15.6%)
Others	11 (18.3%)	5 (17.9%)	6 (18.8%)
None	0	0	0
Twenty-eight days survival
Alive	34 (56.7%)	12 (42.9%)*	22 (68.8%)*
Dead	26 (43.3%)	16 (57.1%)*	10 (31.2%)*

Note:

* P<0.05.

Abbreviations: SS, severe sepsis without thrombocytopenia; SST, severe sepsis with thrombocytopenia.

Figure 1 miRNA expression of IL-18 and IL-27 in PBMCs of sepsis patients.

Notes: (A) miRNA expression of IL-18 in severe sepsis patients with thrombocytopenia was greater than that in those without thrombocytopenia (P=0.015). (B) There was no significant difference in the expression of IL-27 between the two groups (P=0.116).
Abbreviations: IL, interleukin; miRNA, micro RNA; PBMCs, peripheral blood mononuclear cells; SS, severe sepsis without thrombocytopenia; SST, severe sepsis with thrombocytopenia.

Figure 2 Plasma concentrations of IL-18 and IL-27 in sepsis patients.

Notes: (A) The plasma concentration of IL-18 in severe sepsis patients with thrombocytopenia was found to be significantly higher than that in those without thrombocytopenia (P=0.034). (B) No significant difference in the expression of IL-27 was found between the two groups (P=0.184).
Abbreviations: IL, interleukin; SS, severe sepsis without thrombocytopenia; SST, severe sepsis with thrombocytopenia.

Figure 3 miR-130a expression in PBMCs of sepsis patients. miR-130a expression was significantly lower in severe sepsis patients with thrombocytopenia than in severe sepsis patients without thrombocytopenia (P<0.003).

Abbreviations: PBMCs, peripheral blood mononuclear cells; SS, severe sepsis without thrombocytopenia; SST, severe sepsis with thrombocytopenia.