Figure 6. Markers of septic organ injury.
Plasma transaminases (A,B; AST, ALT) were measured as markers for hepatocellular injury in sepsis and SIRS over the first 24 hours. Creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were measured as markers for kidney injury (C,D). All these markers of septic organ injury showed dramatic increases after anthrax infusion beginning around 6 hours and continuing through 24 hours. Thus, liver and kidney function were progressively compromised in sepsis due to B. anthracis.