To Örebro University

Introduction: mRNA expressions of the major histocompatibility complex class II-related genes HLA-DRA and CD74 have been found to be promising markers for sepsis-induced immunosuppression. In the present study we aimed to study how expression of HLA-DRA and CD74 on intensive care unit (ICU) admission were related to death and/or secondary infections in patients with sepsis.

Methods: During a full year adult patients admitted to the ICU of Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge were consecutively subjected to blood sampling within 1 hour from ICU admission. Patients treated with antibiotic therapy were eligible for inclusion. The plausibility of infection (definite, probable, possible, none) was determined based on the Centers for Diseases Control (CDC) criteria. Patients with sepsis (definite/probable/possible infection and a SOFA score increase of >=2) were screened for death within 60 days and secondary infections 48 h to 60 days after ICU admission, using the CDC criteria. HLA-DRA and CD74 mRNA expressions were determined by reverse transcription quantitative PCR.

Results: Among 579 ICU admissions, a blood sample for RNA analysis was collected in 551 cases. Two hundred fifty-seven patients met the inclusion criteria and provided written informed consent. Sepsis was noted in 134 patients. The sepsis patients experienced death in 36 cases (27%), secondary infection in 32 cases (24%), and death and/or secondary infection in 60 cases (45%). Table 1 shows the results of HLA-DRA and CD74 expression related to death and secondary infections.

Conclusions: The mRNA expression of HLA-DRA on ICU admission was significantly decreased in patients with sepsis who died or contracted secondary infections within 60 days. CD74 expression was not significantly decreased in patients with negative outcome.