Sublingual microcirculation and internal environment changes as early indications of sepsis: A prospective observational study

Objective

This study aims to investigate the changes in microcirculation and internal environment before sepsis in patients with infectious diseases.

Methods

In this single-center prospective observational study, all patients did not meet the diagnostic criteria of sepsis 3.0 at admission. Blood samples and sublingual microcirculation were collected at admission, 24 and 48 h after admission.

Results

A total of 101 patients completed this study. In total, 46 patients met the diagnostic criteria of sepsis 3.0 within 5 days after admission, while the remaining 55 patients did not. The platelet (PLT) was significantly lower in the sepsis patients (195.17 ± 63.89 vs. 242.02 ± 68.59, p = .01), Microvascular Flow Index (MFI) (2.45 ± 0.33 vs. 2.70 ± 0.18, p = .00) and Proportion of Perfused Vessels (PPV) (92.44 ± 4.45 vs. 95.88 ± 3.20, p = .00) were significantly lower, while Flow Heterogeneity Index (FHI) (0.32 ± 0.13 vs. 0.22 ± 0.10, p = .00) was significantly higher in the in the sepsis patients at admission. Decreased levels of MFI (p = .00, OR 0.02, 95% CI: 0.00, 0.15) and PLT (p = .00, OR 0.99, 95% CI: 0.98, 1.00) were independent risk factors for sepsis. Additionally, the 24 h PLT change rate (AUC 0.85, Cutoff −0.17, sensitivity 0.70, specificity 0.93, and Youden index 0.63) suggested a potential early warning effect for sepsis.

Conclusion

Changes in microcirculation disturbance and the internal environment occurred before sepsis. The MFI and PLT are independent risk factors for sepsis. Sublingual microcirculation and PLT deterioration can be used as early warning indicators before sepsis.