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Updated: Nov 11, 2025
A Data-Driven Approach to Quantifying Immune States in Sepsis
Published on: February 7, 2025
Cell Population Data (CPD) for Early Recognition of Sepsis and Septic Shock in Children: A Pilot Study
Paolo Biban1, Martina Teggi1, Marcella Gaffuri1
1Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Division of Pediatric Critical and Emergency Care, Verona University Hospital, Verona, Italy.
Insights
Cell Population Data (CPD) show higher values in pediatric sepsis patients, aiding early diagnosis. However, these biomarkers did not predict patient survival or disease severity in the study.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric critical care medicine
- Hematology
- Infectious disease diagnostics
Background:
- Innovative Cell Population Data (CPD) are emerging as early biomarkers for adult sepsis.
- The utility of CPD in pediatric sepsis/septic shock requires further investigation for early recognition and outcome prediction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the effectiveness of CPD in the early diagnosis of sepsis/septic shock in pediatric patients.
- To determine if CPD parameters correlate with C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, patient survival, or sepsis severity.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 54 pediatric patients (0-15 years) admitted to the PICU for sepsis/septic shock (n=26) or elective surgery (n=40 controls).
- Analysis of five CPD parameters (NE-SFL, MO-X, MO-Y, MO-WX, MO-WZ) at PICU admission (t0) using a Sysmex XN 9000® hematological analyzer.
Main Results:
- Neutrophils fluorescence intensity (NE-SFL), monocytes complexity and width of dispersion (MO-WX), and monocytes fluorescence intensity (MO-Y) were significantly higher in pediatric sepsis patients compared to controls.
- NE-SFL values showed a strong correlation with CRP levels in the sepsis group (r = 0.83).
- No significant correlation was found between the studied CPD parameters and patient survival or complicated sepsis course.
Conclusions:
- Elevated NE-SFL, MO-WX, and MO-Y levels at PICU admission may serve as valuable adjuncts for the early diagnosis of sepsis in children.
- Further prospective studies are warranted to validate these preliminary findings and explore the full potential of CPD in pediatric sepsis management.
Abstract:
Objectives: Innovative Cell Population Data (CPD) have been used as early biomarkers for diagnosing sepsis in adults. We assessed the usefulness of CPD in pediatric patients with sepsis/septic shock, in terms of early recognition and outcome prediction. We revised 54 patients (0-15 y) admitted to our Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) for sepsis/septic shock during a 4-year period. Twenty-eight patients were excluded, 26 septic patients were enrolled (G1). Forty children admitted for elective surgery served as controls (G2). Data on five selected CPD parameters, namely neutrophils fluorescence intensity (NE-SFL), monocytes cells complexity (MO-X), monocytes fluorescence intensity (MO-Y), monocytes complexity and width of dispersion of events measured (MO-WX), and monocytes cells size and width dispersion (MO-WZ), were obtained at time of PICU admission (t0) by a hematological analyzer (Sysmex XN 9000®). As the primary outcome we evaluated the relevance of CPD for diagnosing sepsis/septic shock on PICU admission. Furthermore, we investigated if CPD at t0 were correlated with C-reactive protein (CRP), patient survival, or complicated sepsis course. Results: On PICU admission (t0), NE-SFL, MO-WX, and MO-Y were higher in sepsis/septic shock patients compared to controls. NE-SFL values were correlated with CRP values in G1 patients (r = 0.83). None of the five CPD parameters was correlated with survival or complicated sepsis course. Conclusion: We found higher values of NE-SFL, MO-WX, and MO-Y in children with sepsis/septic shock upon PICU admission. These parameters may be a promising adjunct for early sepsis diagnosis in pediatric populations. Larger, prospective studies are needed to confirm our preliminary observations.
