BACKGROUND: Sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) is a complication of impaired neurologic function during the development of sepsis. Its occurrence is closely related to severe systemic infection. The increase of serum Interleukin 6 kit and other inflammatory cytokines has certain clinical significance in the diagnosis of sepsis, However, there is no research at home or abroad indicating whether the high expression of related inflammatory cytokines (inflammatory cytokine storm, ICS) is valuable for the diagnosis and prognosis of SAE patients.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to analyze serum inflammatory cytokines 6 kit [IL-2/4/6/10, TNF-α, and gamma interferon (IFN-γ)], heparin-binding protein (HBP), and serum cholinesterase levels and their clinical significance in septic patients. In this study, we defined the values of inflammatory storm (IL-6 > 5000 pg/ml, IL-10 > 1000 pg/ml, and HBP > 300 ng/ml) to analyze the diagnostic value and 28-day prognostic predictive ability of inflammatory cytokine storm and the severity score in SAE patients.

METHODS: A total of 140 patients with sepsis in the ICU and EICU of the Lianyungang First People's Hospital were included in the present study from October 2021 to March 2023. Based on the Diagnostic criteria for SAE, the 140 cases were divided into 62 cases in the SAE group and 78 cases in the non-SAE group. On admission to the ICU/EICU, the patients gender, age, vital signs, and serum levels of various cytokines were recorded. The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), Sequential Organ Failure Scale (SOFA), and Acute Physiological and Chronic Health Score II (APACHE-II) scores were also assessed to analyze the risk cytokines for the occurrence of SAE.

RESULTS: The age, Sofa score, APACHE-II score, 28-day mortality rate, serological cellular inflammatory cytokines (IL-2/6/10, INF-α, and interferon-gamma), HBP were significantly higher in the SAE group than in the non-SAE group (P < 0.05). In addition, the GCS score and serum cholinesterase levels in the SAE group were lower than in the non-SAE group (P < 0.05). Subsequently, Multi-factor logistic regression analysis revealed that ultra-high IL-6 (> 5000 pg/ml), IL-10 (> 1000 pg/ml), and HBP (> 300 ng/ml) levels and elevated SOFA and APACHE-II scores were risk cytokines for the development of SAE (P < 0.05). 28-day mortality was significantly higher in patients in the SAE group and in the IL-6 > 5000 pg/ml group compared to patients in the USAE and IL-6 < 5000 pg/ml groups(P < 0.001).The four screened predictors of HBP > 300 ng/ml, IL-6 > 5000 pg/ml, decreased GCS score, and decreased APACHEII score were combined into a new predictive data model (risk score).In the SAE group, patients with high risk scores had a higher 28-day mortality rate compared with the low risk score group (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: The occurrence of SAE is closely correlated with age, concomitant diabetes, SOFA score, APACHE II score, serum cytosolic inflammatory cytokine levels (IL-2/6/10, TNF-α, and IFN-γ), HBP, and serum cholinesterase levels. In addition, inflammatory storms are associated with the mechanism of SAE, and high expression levels of the inflammatory cytokines IL-6 > 5000 pg/ml, IL-10 > 1000 pg/ml, and HBP > 300 ng/ml in patients with sepsis contribute to the early diagnosis of SAE. In addition, IL-6 > 5000 pg/ml was also associated with an increase in 28-day mortality (P < 0.05), suggesting that the level of inflammatory storms may be related to the mechanism of sepsis-related SAE and 28-day mortality. According to the LASSO results, when SAE patients admitted to the intensive care unit satisfy HBP > 300 ng/ml, IL6 > 5000 pg/ml, decreased GCS score, and increased APACHEII score, it suggests that the patient's 28-day mortality rate is higher, and it also validates that inflammatory storm can be used as a predictor of prognosis for SAE patients.