Can the outcome after trauma or sepsis be predicted from biochemical or hormonal parameters?

The severity of shock of 36 surgical ICU patients was classified using the Injury Severity Score (N = 20) and the Sepsis Score (N = 16). A great number of laboratory parameters were repeatedly determined on 5 days following the trauma or the onset of septic symptoms. Blood lactate, C-peptide, BUN, osmolality, and thyroid hormones were most closely related to the severity of the disease. This correlation was, however, less pronounced in the trauma than in the septic patients. Lactate and thyroid hormones showed a typical course in the non-survivors and may therefore be valuable as prognostic indices.