Circulating leptin and tumor necrosis factor: a in patients with sepsis: correlation with microbiologic findings

Forty-six critically ill patients with culture proven bacteremia participated in this study and classified into two groups [30 patients with severe sepsis and 16 patients with septic shock]. The control group composed of 20 subjects before elective surgery. Body mass index [BMI] was calculated for all subjects. Leptin and TNF-alpha concentrations were determined for all participants. Leptin and TNF- alpha were reassessed in eight patients who survived after severe sepsis. Blood cultures were obtained for all patients. Specimens from other sites were obtained as appropriate. All samples were cultured and the isolates were identified by standard microbiologic procedures. All patients received a full standard supportive care and an empiric antimicrobial treatment that was modified to reflect the in vitro susceptibility testing whenever appropriate. The study concluded that septic patients had an elevated leptin and TNF-alpha levels correlating with the severity of the disease. Patients with a pure Gram-negative infection had significantly higher leptin and TNF- alpha levels than those with a pure Gram-positive sepsis