Table 5.
Sepsis-induced immunosuppression—association of sepsis-induced immune cell apoptosis and depletion with sepsis severity in neonates and adults with sepsis.
| Adult or neonatal GA | Cohort sepsis characteristics (n) and mortality (if applicable) | Time of blood sampling and age at sepsis | Observation in septic cohort | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adult | Prospective study: Sepsis: 71 Non-sepsis:55 Healthy control: 6 | Blood samples were collected at various times during sepsisMean age range at sepsis: 57–59 | Increased T cell, B cell, and dendritic cell apoptosis in the sepsis group | (82) |
| Adult | Prospective study: Septic shock: 19 Healthy control: 22 | Blood sample was collected at time of study inclusionMean (±SD) age at sepsis:58 (±4) years | Marked increase in apoptosis of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and B cells in the septic shock group | (83) |
| Adult | Post-mortem study: Organ dysfunction during sepsis: 40 Trauma control: 29 Median (range) days of sepsis: 4 (1–40). Time from sepsis onset to death not described | Post-mortem sample collection occurred 30–180 min following deathMean (±SD) age at organ dysfunction during sepsis: 71.7 (±15.9) years | Extensive depletion of splenic CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and HLA-DR cells in the organ dysfunction during sepsis group | (84) |
| Adult | Prospective and post-mortem study Sepsis: 27 - Survivor: 2 - Non-survivors: 25 Non-septic critically ill: 16 Trauma control: 25 Mean age of death and time from sepsis onset to death not described |
Sample collection was either intraoperatively (survivors) or post-mortem (15 min to 6 h following death)Mean age as sepsis not described | Depletion of splenic CD4+ T helper cells and B cells in the sepsis group | (85) |
| VLBW < 1,500 g(approximate mean GA 27 weeks) | EOS: 5 - Survivor: 0 - Non-survivors: 5 LOS: 15 - Survivor: 0 - Non-survivors: 15 Controls: NA Mean (±SD) age of death: EOS:1.6 (±0.5) days LOS:17.8 (±12.1) days Time from sepsis onset to death not described |
Post-mortem examination completed within 2 h of deathMean (±SD) age at sepsis:EOS: 0 (±0) daysLOS: 14.1 (±9.9) days | EOS: No cell depletion LOS: Depletion of thymus lymphocytes | (71) |
| Moderate preterm(GA range 35–37 weeks) | Sepsis: 6 - Survivor: 0 - Non-survivor:6 Control mortality: 6 Mean age of death and time from sepsis onset to death not described |
Post-mortem examination time not describedAge at sepsis not described | Depletion of neutrophils in the sepsis group | (86) |
| Mix of preterm and term(GA mean 29.2 (range 24–38) weeks) | EOS: 10 - Survivor: 0 - Non-survivor: 10 Control mortality: 20 Time to mortality within 48 h after birth. Time from sepsis onset to death not described |
Post-mortem examination occurred between 4 and 12 h following deathAge at sepsis < 48 h after birth | Depletion of T cells and B cells | (87) |
GA, gestational age; LOS, late-onset sepsis; EOS, early-onset sepsis; VLBW, very low birth weight; HLA-DR, Human Leukocyte Antigen-DR isotype.