Active clinical trials for "Shock, Septic"

The aim of this prospective study is to assess the prognostic value of bioactive plasma adrenomedullin (ADM) in 600 patients with severe sepsis or septic shock in an international multicenter study and to validate the findings concerning the association of ADM concentration and the use of vasopressor therapy, organ failure and outcome.

Sepsis induces hemostatic disorders due to the exessive or inappropriate activation of inflammation, which could lead either to hypercoagulability or hypocoagulability. It is currently not possible to determine the hemostatic status of a given patient. This instability of hemostatic system is not revealed by classical tests. Thus, a better characterization of hemostatic status could certainly improve patient care. This study aims at characterizing disorders of coagulation and fibrinolysis using "global" tests such as thrombin generation test or coagulolytic test. Furthermore, the association with biological markers of interest (such as microparticles, neutrophil elastase or histones) will be evaluated.

IV fluid therapy remains an essential haemodynamic objective in the treatment strategy of septic shock. Left ventricular systolic dysfunction secondary to sepsis is observed in 40% and up to 65% of the population concerned. However, the capacity of the various indices to predict the response to IV fluid therapy in septic shock with left ventricular systolic dysfunction have not been clearly defined. Measurement of parameters reflecting filling pressures during transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is one of the methods used to evaluate cardiac function and estimate the filling reserve, but with no strong evidence. Right heart catheterization with determination of cardiac output by pulmonary thermodilution can also be used to measure the various parameters commonly used to predict the response to IV fluid therapy. Very few data are available with no reliable and clinically relevant data in this population with septic shock and left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVEF ≤ 40%) and the response to IV fluid therapy monitored by dynamic indices obtained by transpulmonary thermodilution and right heart catheterization. Consequently, the capacity of the various indices of preload dependence to predict the response to IV fluid therapy in septic shock with left ventricular systolic dysfunction remains difficult to define.

Aim of the study : The primary aim of the investigators study is to highlight the presence of biomarkers (biological indicators of the presence of inflammation or infection) of infectious processes during the systemic inflammatory response (SIRS) allowing, first to discriminate non-infectious inflammation from infectious processes and secondary to determine the microbial pathogen responsive of the infection. For this purpose the investigators will conduct a combinatorial approach of several blood markers including usual markers of inflammation and other blood and cells markers. Expression of small pieces of RNA (miRNA) known to inhibit determined gene expression, will also be analysed in monocytes (a specific group of white blood cells involved in the fist line of defences against microbes. Study design : For this purpose the investigators will include 300 patients admitted to the intensive care unit with suspicion of infection. Serial blood sample will be take for biological parameters analysis. Efficiency of each single parameters and of different combinations of different markers to determine the presence or absence of infection responsive of clinical inflammation will be studied.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between a procalcitonin decrease over 72 hours and outcome in patients who have severe sepsis or septic shock.

Microparticles (MPs) result from plasma cell membrane remodeling and shedding after cell stimulation or apoptosis. MPs are know recognized as a pool of bioactive messengers with emerging role in pathophysiology of immune and cardiovascular diseases. MPs have been characterized during septic shock and may contribute to dissemination of pro-inflammatory and procoagulant mediators. This is a prospective observational study of circulating MPs and blood coagulation in 100 septic shock patients admitted in 3 tertiary hospitals medical ICU at baseline (D1), D2, D3, D4 and D7.

Delirium in the ICU is a prevalent problem occurring in up to 80% of ICU patients. A potential cause of delirium in ICU patients could be cerebral hypoxia. Septic shock is associated with high rates of delirium. The aim of this pilot study is two fold. First, to determine the feasibility and potential challenges of measuring cerebral oxygenation in ICU patients with severe sepsis and septic shock. And second, to see if the incidence and magnitude of cerebral desaturations correlated with ICU acquired delirium as measured by the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) scores.

Pneumonia is a common infectious disease of the lung, often requiring treatment in the hospital. Clinical scoring systems are available, identifying patients not requiring hospitalization. However, the course of disease of patients in the hospital remains hard to predict. While most patients will recover quickly, some will, despite appropriate treatment, develop a severe course leading to sepsis and systemic responses resulting in organ dysfunction. The PROGRESS study aims to identify clinical, genetic, and other molecular markers and combinations thereof predicting a severe course of pneumonia in the hospital. Such predictors will, for instance, support decisions on earlier transfer of patients to intensive care and thus improving outcome.

The overall hypotheses of this project is that Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) can be used to identify morbidity, mortality, and resource utilization in patients with sepsis and septic shock.

Life-threatening infection impairs bloodflow to the gut, thereby causing less delivery of oxygen. This leads to increased formation of lactic acid. The investigators hypothesize, that the more serious the condition, the higher the concentration of lactic acid will be, thus relating to the risk of multiple organ failure or death.