Therapeutic Role of Ascorbic Acid as an Adjunct in Sepsis: A Prospective Randomized Clinical Study

Vitamin C is focus of intense interest with respect to its role in treatment of critically ill pat Introduction- ients. It has vast beneficial effects including the attenuation of lipid peroxidation, reduced vascular permeability, preservation of endothelial function and microcirculatory flow. To assess the role of ascorbic acid as an adjunct b Aim- y comparing the three different doses of ascorbic acid in terms of Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA)Score, acute inflammatory markers- C-reactive protein (CRP), serum lactate levels, Red Cell Distribution width, dose and duration of norepinephrine administration. Total of 233 patients having sepsis admitted to ICU of Rajindra hosp Methods- ital were enrolled in study. Of these, 23 patients died before completing the study duration of 96 hours. Hence, data of 210 patients (70 in each of the three groups) was analyzed using SPSS software and Microsoft excel. Patients received intravenous ascorbic acid 50mg/kg/24hours, 100mg/kg/24 hours, 200 mg/kg/24 hours for 96 hours in group A, group B and group C respectively. there was significant reduction in SOFA scores, CRP levels, red cell distribution wid Results- th, serum lactate levels in all the three groups However, maximum reduction in SOFA scores, CRP levels and red cell distribution width was in group C There was significant reduction in mean dose of noradrenaline in all the three groups and statistically significant difference in mean duration of noradrenaline infusion in all the three groups. We Conclusionconclude that addition of ascorbic acid has improved mean arterial pressure and reduction in dose and duration of noradrenaline in all the three groups indicating early reversal of shock. It also has led to marked reduction in Sofa score, serum lactate levels, CRP and red cell distribution width.