Sepsis

Sepsis is a condition with a high mortality risk, which depends on the nature of the pathogen, patient-dependent factors, and the speed with which the pathology is diagnosed and treated. Early diagnosis and treatment are therefore key to improving survival. Today, early diagnosis is based on scoring systems. Among these, the qSOFA (quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment) and SOFA (Sequential Organ Failure Assessment) scores have been validated to assess mortality risk. SOFA is based on blood pressure, respiratory rate, Glasgow Coma Scale and other clinical data (blood ionogram, diuresis). This score is used when the patient is in intensive care, in a critical condition. In cases of suspected infection in non-ICU patients, the qSOFA score is a better predictor of inpatient mortality than either the Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS) or the SOFA score. The qSOFA is calculated on the basis of a clinical examination, monitoring of physiological constants and a blood ionogram. Although quick and easy to use, it has low sensitivity and moderate specificity for short-term mortality.

A marker of sepsis severity that is sensitive and specific at an early stage in the development of the infection, and does not require extensive testing and equipment, could improve patient survival rates. Research into the mechanisms involved in severe sepsis (or septicemia) has shown that red blood cells are rigid and fragile, liable to release hemes (components of hemoglobin) which promote inflammation and play an important role in the progression of the disease. Our fTT deformability marker could provide a means of assessing this severity.

fTT biomarker is able to discriminate patients in ICU

A) fTT measured on 1 control HbAA sample (grey) and 2 samples from patients in ICU (green) at shear rates ranging from 1 to 15 s-1. fTT measured at a shear rate of B) 10s-1 and C) 5 s-1 on 19, respectively 3, controls (grey) and 2 ICU patients (green).