Cardiac dysfunction and ferritin as early markers of severity in pediatric sepsis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to verify the association of echocardiogram, ferritin, C-reactive protein, and leukocyte count with unfavorable outcomes in pediatric sepsis. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was carried out from March to December 2014, with pediatric critical care patients aged between 28 days and 18 years. Inclusion criteria were diagnosis of sepsis, need for mechanical ventilation for more than 48h, and vasoactive drugs. Serum levels of C-reactive protein, ferritin, and leukocyte count were collected on the first day (D0), 24h (D1), and 72h (D3) after recruitment. Patients underwent transthoracic echocardiography to determine the ejection fraction of the left ventricle on D1 and D3. The outcomes measured were length of hospital stay and in the pediatric intensive care unit, mechanical ventilation duration, free hours of VM, duration of use of inotropic agents, maximum inotropic score, and mortality. RESULTS: Twenty patients completed the study. Patients with elevated ferritin levels on D0 had also fewer ventilator-free hours (p=0.046) and higher maximum inotropic score (p=0.009). Patients with cardiac dysfunction by echocardiogram on D1 had longer hospital stay (p=0.047), pediatric intensive care unit stay (p=0.020), duration of mechanical ventilation (p=0.011), maximum inotropic score (p=0.001), and fewer ventilator-free hours (p=0.020). CONCLUSION: Cardiac dysfunction by echocardiography and serum ferritin value was significantly associated with unfavorable outcomes in pediatric patients with sepsis.

Cardiac dysfunction and ferritin as early markers of severity in pediatric sepsis / Disfunção cardíaca e a ferritina como marcadores precoces de gravidade na sepse pediátrica

Abstract Objective: The aim of this study was to verify the association of echocardiogram, ferritin, C-reactive protein, and leukocyte count with unfavorable outcomes in pediatric sepsis. Methods: A prospective cohort study was carried out from March to December 2014, with pediatric critical care patients aged between 28 days and 18 years. Inclusion criteria were diagnosis of sepsis, need for mechanical ventilation for more than 48 h, and vasoactive drugs. Serum levels of C-reactive protein, ferritin, and leukocyte count were collected on the first day (D0), 24 h (D1), and 72 h (D3) after recruitment. Patients underwent transthoracic echocardiography to determine the ejection fraction of the left ventricle on D1 and D3. The outcomes measured were length of hospital stay and in the pediatric intensive care unit, mechanical ventilation duration, free hours of VM, duration of use of inotropic agents, maximum inotropic score, and mortality. Results: Twenty patients completed the study. Patients with elevated ferritin levels on D0 had also fewer ventilator-free hours (p = 0.046) and higher maximum inotropic score (p = 0.009). Patients with cardiac dysfunction by echocardiogram on D1 had longer hospital stay (p = 0.047), pediatric intensive care unit stay (p = 0.020), duration of mechanical ventilation (p = 0.011), maximum inotropic score (p = 0.001), and fewer ventilator-free hours (p = 0.020). Conclusion: Cardiac dysfunction by echocardiography and serum ferritin value was significantly associated with unfavorable outcomes in pediatric patients with sepsis.

Resumo Objetivo: Verificar a associação do ecocardiograma, da ferritina, da proteína C reativa (PCR) e da contagem de leucócitos com desfechos desfavoráveis na sepse pediátrica. Métodos: Estudo de coorte prospectivo, de março a dezembro de 2014, com pacientes críticos pediátricos entre 28 dias e 18 anos. Critérios de inclusão foram diagnóstico de sepse, necessidade de ventilação mecânica (VM) por mais de 48 horas e uso de drogas vasoativas. Avaliaram‐se os níveis séricos PCR, ferritina, contagem de leucócitos, no recrutamento (D0), 24 horas (D1) e 72 horas (D3) após o recrutamento. No D1 e no D3 todos os pacientes foram submetidos a ecocardiograma transtorácico para determinação da Fração de Ejeção (FE) do ventrículo esquerdo. Os desfechos avaliados foram tempo de internação hospitalar e na Unidade de Terapia Intensiva Pediátrica (UTIP); duração da VM; horas livres de VM; duração do uso de inotrópicos; escore de inotrópicos máximo e mortalidade. Resultados: Vinte pacientes completaram o estudo. Ferritina elevada no D0 associou‐se com menor tempo livre de ventilação (p = 0,046) e maior escore de inotrópicos máximo (p = 0,009). A disfunção cardíaca pelo ecocardiograma no D1 relacionou‐se com maior tempo de internação hospitalar (p = 0,047), de UTIP (p = 0,020), VM total (p = 0,011), escore de inotrópicos máximo (p = 0,001) e menor tempo livre de VM (p = 0,020). Conclusão: A disfunção cardíaca pelo ecocardiograma e o valor de ferritina sérica associaram‐se significativamente com desfechos desfavoráveis nos pacientes pediátricos com sepse.