A matched case-control study on the effectiveness of extracorporeal cytokine adsorption in critically ill patients

Extracorporeal cytokine adsorption aims to reduce cytokine levels in critically ill patients. However, little convincing data exist to support its widespread use. This retrospective study compared interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in patients treated with or without cytokine adsorber (CytoSorb®). Intensive care patients between Jan 2017 and Dec 2021 who had at least two IL-6 measurements were included. They were divided into an adsorber group and a standard of care group. We screened 3865 patients and included 52 patients in the adsorber group and 94 patients in the standard of care group. Matching was performed and the groups were compared regarding IL-6, lactate, CRP, procalcitonin, vasopressor requirement, and mortality rate. After matching, there were 21 patients in each group. Patients had similar age, ECMO and renal replacement therapy use, baseline noradrenaline requirement, serum lactate, pH, CRP, and IL-6 levels. There were no significant differences in the time course of IL-6, lactate, CRP, procalcitonin and noradrenaline requirement between groups. Two-day and ICU mortality and Kaplan-Meier estimated survival were also comparable. In this matched case-control study no difference in IL-6, inflammatory parameters, noradrenaline requirement or mortality was observed between patients treated with adsorber or standard of care.