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Open Access 01-12-2017 | Research article

Macrophage activation-like syndrome: an immunological entity associated with rapid progression to death in sepsis

Authors: Evdoxia Kyriazopoulou, Konstantinos Leventogiannis, Anna Norrby-Teglund, Georgios Dimopoulos, Aikaterini Pantazi, Stylianos E. Orfanos, Nikoletta Rovina, Iraklis Tsangaris, Theologia Gkavogianni, Elektra Botsa, Eleftheria Chassiou, Anastasia Kotanidou, Christina Kontouli, Panagiotis Chaloulis, Dimitrios Velissaris, Athina Savva, Jonas-Sundén Cullberg, Karolina Akinosoglou, Charalambos Gogos, Apostolos Armaganidis, Evangelos J. Giamarellos-Bourboulis, on behalf of the Hellenic Sepsis Study Group

Published in: BMC Medicine | Issue 1/2017

Abstract

Background

A subanalysis of a randomized clinical trial indicated sepsis survival benefit from interleukin (IL)-1 blockade in patients with features of the macrophage activation-like syndrome (MALS). This study aimed to investigate the frequency of MALS and to develop a biomarker of diagnosis and prognosis.

Methods

Patients with infections and systemic inflammatory response syndrome were assigned to one test cohort (n = 3417) and a validation cohort (n = 1704). MALS was diagnosed for patients scoring positive either for the hemophagocytic syndrome score and/or having both hepatobiliary dysfunction and disseminated intravascular coagulation. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the predictive value of MALS for 10-day mortality in both cohorts. Ferritin, sCD163, IL-6, IL-10, IL-18, interferon gamma (IFN-γ), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) were measured in the blood the first 24 h; ferritin measurements were repeated in 747 patients on day 3.

Results

The frequency of MALS was 3.7% and 4.3% in the test and the validation cohort, respectively. In both cohorts, MALS was an independent risk factor for 10-day mortality. A ferritin level above 4420 ng/ml was accompanied by 66.7% and 66% mortality after 28 days, respectively. Ferritin levels above 4420 ng/ml were associated with an increase of IL-6, IL-18, INF-γ, and sCD163 and a decreased IL-10/TNF-α ratio, indicating predominance of pro-inflammatory phenomena. Any less than 15% decrease of ferritin on day 3 was associated with more than 90% sensitivity for unfavorable outcome after 10 days. This high mortality risk was also validated in an independent Swedish cohort (n = 109).

Conclusions

MALS is an independent life-threatening entity in sepsis. Ferritin measurements can provide early diagnosis of MALS and may allow for specific treatment.

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Title: Macrophage activation-like syndrome: an immunological entity associated with rapid progression to death in sepsis
Authors: Evdoxia Kyriazopoulou
Konstantinos Leventogiannis
Anna Norrby-Teglund
Georgios Dimopoulos
Aikaterini Pantazi
Stylianos E. Orfanos
Nikoletta Rovina
Iraklis Tsangaris
Theologia Gkavogianni
Elektra Botsa
Eleftheria Chassiou
Anastasia Kotanidou
Christina Kontouli
Panagiotis Chaloulis
Dimitrios Velissaris
Athina Savva
Jonas-Sundén Cullberg
Karolina Akinosoglou
Charalambos Gogos
Apostolos Armaganidis
Evangelos J. Giamarellos-Bourboulis
on behalf of the Hellenic Sepsis Study Group
Publication date: 01-12-2017
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: BMC Medicine / Issue 1/2017
Electronic ISSN: 1741-7015
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-017-0930-5

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Macrophage activation-like syndrome: an immunological entity associated with rapid progression to death in sepsis

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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