ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: There is considerable interest in the research of molecules modulating the acute inflammatory response in patients with sepsis. Paraoxonases (PON) are antioxidant and anti-inflammatory enzymes that inhibit the production of the monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1). This preliminary study investigated changes in PON status and MCP-1 concentrations in critically ill patients with severe sepsis treated in an ICU and their relationship with the evolution of disease. METHODS: This was a longitudinal, prospective and observational study on 15 patients with sepsis, studied at baseline and on days 1, 2, 5, 7 and 10 of their stay in the ICU. In all the patients we measured serum PON1 and PON3 concentrations, PON1 paraoxonase and lactonase activities, serum MCP-1 concentrations, and several standard biochemical and haematological parameters. RESULTS: MCP-1 concentration significantly decreased with the resolution of sepsis, and this decrease was especially important during the first 5 days of hospitalisation. PON1 and PON3 tended to decrease during the first 5 days in ICU and significantly increased in days 7 and 10. Linear regression analysis showed significant and direct correlations among serum MCP-1 concentration and lactate levels at baseline. At the end of stay, PON1 paraoxonase and lactonase activities were significantly correlated with organ system function measurements. CONCLUSIONS: We observed an inverse pattern between changes in MCP-1, and PON1 and PON3 levels in patients with sepsis, this was related to the resolution of their infection after receiving treatment in an ICU.
