Abstract Background Sepsis remains a significant cause of pediatric mortality and morbidity. We recently reported that EBV seropositivity was independently associated with increased mortality in pediatric sepsis, and CMV and HSV seropositivity were associated with increased mortality in univariable analysis. This study aims to further understand the pathophysiological derangements associated with these findings.Comparison of biomarkers significantly different across EBV, CMV, and HSV serologies, divided by EBV serostatusPatients with EBV had significantly higher levels of CRP, Ferritin, and multiple cytokines. (outliers removed from plots)Comparison of biomarkers significantly different across EBV, CMV, and HSV serologies, divided by CMV serostatusPatients with CMV had significantly higher levels of CRP, Ferritin, and multiple cytokines. (outliers removed from plots) Methods Secondary analysis of 401 pediatric sepsis patients from 9 Pediatric Intensive Care Units. Samples were tested by serology (IgG) for EBV, CMV, HSV, and HHV6. Inflammatory markers and cytokines/chemokines tested early in the course (first four days) were compared based on serologic status. Univariable associations were tested with Wilcoxon rank sum test.Comparison of biomarkers significantly different across EBV, CMV, and HSV serologies, divided by HSV serostatusPatients with HSV had significantly higher levels of CRP, Ferritin, and multiple cytokines. (outliers removed from plots) Results Patients seropositive for EBV were more inflamed early in their course than seronegative patients (CRP 11.7 vs 9.1, p=0.008; Ferritin 263 vs 146, p 0.001) with significantly higher levels of multiple cytokines/chemokines, specifically TNF (75 vs 67, p=0.044), IL6 (11 vs 8, p=0.038), IL8 (64 vs 44, p 0.001), IL10 (24 vs 20, p=0.04), IL17A (20 vs 18.3, p=0.007), IL18BP (20358 vs 15280, p=0.004), IL22 (27 vs 25, p=0.049), CXCL9 (952 vs 727, p=0.029), MCP-1 (223 vs 108, p 0.001), M-CSF (33 vs 23, p=0.01), and SCF (163 vs 143, p=0.028). Similar patterns were seen for CMV and HSV seropositivity. Conclusion Seropositivity for herpesviruses is associated with greater inflammation at or near the time of presentation with sepsis. These findings suggest that herpesvirus latency may contribute to a greater inflammatory response in the setting of pediatric sepsis. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures
Aldewereld et al. (Thu,) studied this question.
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