Oxidative stress and anti-oxidant status in children with sepsis

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Pediatric Critical Care
• Oxidative Stress Research

Background:

• Sepsis poses a significant life-threatening risk in children, necessitating early recognition and treatment to reduce mortality.
• Pathogenesis of sepsis involves imbalances in oxidative and antioxidant markers, with increased oxidants and decreased antioxidants observed.
• Investigating novel biomarkers like thiol-disulfides is crucial for improving sepsis diagnosis and management in pediatric intensive care units (PICUs).

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate and compare thiol-disulfide levels in children with and without sepsis in a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU).
• To evaluate the potential of thiol-disulfide parameters as diagnostic tools for pediatric sepsis.

Main Methods:

• A cohort study involving 64 children with sepsis and 62 controls was conducted in a PICU from October 2022 to March 2023.
• Blood samples were collected, processed, and stored, with thiol-disulfide values analyzed using the ELISA kit method.
• Key parameters measured included total oxidant status, 8-OHdG, native thiol, and thiol/disulfide ratios.

Main Results:

• Children with sepsis exhibited significantly elevated levels of total oxidant status, plasma 8-OHdG, total-native thiol, and native/total thiol percent ratio compared to controls (p < 0.05).
• Conversely, antioxidant parameters such as total antioxidant status, paraoxonase 1 activity, disulfide, and disulfide/thiol ratios were significantly lower in the sepsis group (p < 0.05).

Conclusions:

• The study confirms that critically ill children with sepsis have significantly higher oxidant parameters and lower antioxidant parameters.
• Thiol-disulfide levels demonstrate potential as a diagnostic biomarker for sepsis in critically ill children, complementing existing inflammation markers.