The Effects of Plasma Endotoxin Level on Survival Time of Terminally Ill Cancer Patients.
10.14475/kjhpc.2014.17.2.57
- Author:
Jin Ah LEE
1
;
Ho Min YOON
;
Youn Seon CHOI
;
Jong Eun YEON
;
June Young LEE
Author Information
1. Department of Family Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. younseon@korea.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Endotoxins;
Terminal care;
Neoplasm;
Prognosis;
Hospice care
- MeSH:
Alanine Transaminase;
Aspartate Aminotransferases;
Bilirubin;
C-Reactive Protein;
Endotoxins;
Hematocrit;
Hospice Care;
Humans;
Karnofsky Performance Status;
Leukocytes;
Life Expectancy;
Multiple Organ Failure;
Multivariate Analysis;
Plasma*;
Prognosis;
Terminal Care;
Terminally Ill*
- From:Korean Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
2014;17(2):57-65
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: Since most terminally ill cancer patients die of multiple organ failure, plasma endotoxin concentration levels may be used to predict the life expectancy. This study was performed to evaluate the clinical significance of endotoxin level in plasma as a prognostic factor for survival in patients with terminal cancer. METHODS: This study was conducted with 56 terminally ill cancer patients, above 20 years old, from April 2009 through October 2009. Demographic characteristics, Karnofsky performance status, and survival time were evaluated. We analyzed blood levels of white blood cell hemoglobin, hematocrit, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, c-reactive protein, total bilirubin and endotoxin in each patient. RESULTS: We considered following variable for univariate analysis: plasma endotoxin level, sex, age, WBC, hemoglobin, hematocrit, AST, ALT, total bilirubin, CRP and severity of pain. Univariate analysis did not show a significant association between plasma endotoxin level and survival time. However, in a multivariate analysis with factors that were found to be significantly associated with survival sex, WBC count and total bilirubin level in univariate analysis, high levels of plasma endotoxin and short survival time were significantly related. CONCLUSION: Plasma endotoxin level could be used as a prognostic factor to predict the life expectancy of terminally ill cancer patients.
