Korean J Geriatr Gerontol.  2013 Jun;14(1):39-48.

The Correlation of Plasma Endotoxin and Components of Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome in Terminally Ill Cancer Patients

• Jung HH
• Yoon HM
• Choi YS
• Lee JY
• Yeon JE

Abstract

Background
Most of terminally ill cancer patients died of multiple organ failure (MOF) preceding Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). Serum endotoxin known as the cause of multiple organ failure and shock, stimulates the secretion of various cytokines and acute phase reactants. This study will investigate the correlation between the endotoxin and inflammation indices by the degree of the systemic inflammation of terminal cancer patients.
Methods
Fifty-nine out of sixty-six terminally ill cancer patients referred to palliative care center, Korea University Guro Hospital from April 2009 to October 2009 were analyzed in this study. We performed correlation analysis between the plasma endotoxin and inflammation indices in the degree of the systemic inflammation.
Results
As increasing the number of SIRS components, CRP were increased (r=.300, P<0.05) whereas lymphocyte was decreased(r=−.332, P<0.01). The plasma endotoxin and ESR do not demonstrate any significant correlations with the number of SIRS components.
Conclusion
Lymphocyte, and CRP correlate with the degree of systemic inflammatory condition of terminally ill cancer patients. However, the plasma endotoxin concentration does not show the correlation with the states of systemic inflammation as well as with other inflammation indices.

Keyword

Terminal cancer patients; SIRS; MOF; Endotoxin; Inflammation indices