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Beneficial effects of the heme oxygenase-1/carbon monoxide system in patients with severe sepsis/septic shock

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Abstract

Purpose

We evaluated the relations among the arterial carbon monoxide (CO) concentration, heme oxygenase (HO)-1 expression by monocytes, oxidative stress, plasma levels of cytokines and bilirubin, and the outcome of patients with severe sepsis or septic shock.

Methods

Thirty-six patients who fulfilled the criteria for severe sepsis or septic shock and 21 other patients without sepsis during their stay in the intensive care unit were studied. HO-1 protein expression by monocytes, arterial CO, oxidative stress, bilirubin, and cytokines were measured.

Results

Arterial blood CO, cytokine, and bilirubin levels, and monocyte HO-1 protein expression were higher in patients with severe sepsis/septic shock than in non-septic patients. Increased HO-1 expression was related to the arterial CO concentration and oxidative stress. There was a positive correlation between survival and increased HO-1 protein expression or a higher CO level.

Conclusions

Arterial CO and monocyte HO-1 protein expression were increased in critically ill patients, particularly those with severe sepsis or septic shock, suggesting that oxidative stress is closely related to HO-1 expression. The HO-1/CO system may play an important role in sepsis.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science [Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C) no. 18591991].

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute-cho, Aichi, Japan

    Shoji Takaki, Naoshi Takeyama, Yuka Kajita, Teru Yabuki, Hiroki Noguchi, Yasuo Miki, Yasusuke Inoue, Takashi Nakagawa & Hiroshi Noguchi

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  1. Shoji Takaki
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  2. Naoshi Takeyama
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  3. Yuka Kajita
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  4. Teru Yabuki
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  5. Hiroki Noguchi
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  6. Yasuo Miki
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  7. Yasusuke Inoue
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  8. Takashi Nakagawa
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  9. Hiroshi Noguchi
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Correspondence to Shoji Takaki.

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Takaki, S., Takeyama, N., Kajita, Y. et al. Beneficial effects of the heme oxygenase-1/carbon monoxide system in patients with severe sepsis/septic shock. Intensive Care Med 36, 42–48 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00134-009-1575-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00134-009-1575-4

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