Abstract:

Objective: To detect ADAMTS-13 deficiency in sepsis patients and its effect on in-hospital morbidity and mortality in adult patients of sepsis. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP) and Combined Military Hospital (CMH) Rawalpindi, from Apr 2017 to Apr 2018. Methodology: All indoor patients admitted at Combined Military Hospital Rawalpindi and diagnosed as suffering from sepsis at Armed Forces Institute of Pathology according to the guidelines of the Critical Care Society of Medicine Consensus Conference Committee. Forty sepsis patients were recruited for the study. Two groups were formed on the basis of ADAMTS-13 antigen levels, non-deficient and deficient. Basic haematological and clinical parameters were recorded. Levels of ADAMTS-13 antigen were analyzed by using Technozyme kit byenzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and level less than 0.40 IU/ml was taken deficient as defined by manufacturer. Comparison was done between ADAMTS-13 deficient and non-deficient group with regard to clinical and haematological characteristics, ICU stay, hospital admission days and in-hospital mortality. Healthy controls of same age and gender were also observed for ADAMTS-13 antigen level. Results: Among total 40 sepsis patients, thirty two (80%) were males and eight (20%) were females with a mean age of 61 ± 15 years (range: 30-85 years). ADAMTS-13 deficiency (<0.40 IU/ml) was found in 28 (70%) of patients while 12 (30%) had normal antigen levels. In patients with ADAMTS-13 deficiency, twenty four (85.7%) had low platelet levels <150 x 109/l, mean hospital stay 19.2 ± 7.6 days and in-hospital mortality was seen in eight (28.6%) patients, in comparison of non-deficient group in which platelet levels were equal or >150 x 109/l, mean hospital stay was 10.2 ± 3.6 days and in-hospital mortality was in one (8.3%) patient respectively. ADAMTS-13 antigen level was found sufficient in healthy controls. Conclusion: Majority of the sepsis patients were found ADAMTS-13 deficient. Deficiency exhibit long term hospital admission, thrombocytopenia and increase in hospital mortality. ADAMTS-13 deficiency might play a role in sepsis induced thrombocytopenia and in hospital mortality. More studies are recommended on the subject with larger sample size to evaluate its role in sepsis.

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