Objective To investigate the organ protective effects and the timing of continuous blood purification (CBP) in the treatment of severe sepsis. Methods A double-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted. Seventy-four patients with severe sepsis aged between 35 years and 80 years with acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ (APACHEⅡ) scores over 20 admitted to Department of Critical Care Medicine of the First Hospital of Wuhan from January 2013 to January 2015 were enrolled. They were divided into control group (n = 37) and treatment group (n = 37) by random number table method. All patients in these two groups received conventional therapy following the guidelines for management of severe sepsis in 2012. In addition the patients in treatment group received continuous veno-venous hemofiltration (CVVH). The critical score, liver and kidney function indexes, etc., levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in plasma and ultra filtrate before and 24, 48, and 72 hours after treatment, and the clinical picture 2 weeks after treatment in two groups were observed. Results APACHE Ⅱ scores, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) scores, Murray scores of acute lung injury, and systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) scores of the patients of the above two groups were gradually declined after the treatment. The levels of white blood cell count (WBC), procalcitonin (PCT), lactate (Lac), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukins (IL-6 and IL-8), and endotoxin gradually lowered. Levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (SCr), alanine transaminase (ALT) and the oxygenation index (PaO2/FiO2) showed a tendency of lowering. There were statistically significant differences in scores of critical illness, WBC, PCT, Lac, pro-inflammatory cytokine, liver and kidney function indexes, etc. between treatment group and control group 48 hours after treatment (APACHE Ⅱ score: 15.5±4.7 vs. 20.3±5.3, MODS score: 4.6±1.4 vs. 7.3±2.2, Murray score: 1.4±0.5 vs. 1.7±0.6, SIRS score: 2.9±0.8 vs. 3.7±1.0, WBC (×109/L): 1.1±0.5 vs. 1.6±0.5, PCT (μg/L): 26.7±12.0 vs. 32.4±14.1, Lac (mmol/L): 7.6±2.2 vs. 9.3±2.8, TNF-α (μg/L): 96.3±17.4 vs. 153.4±24.2, IL-6 (μg/L): 146.8±20.6 vs. 213.8±29.2, IL-8 (μg/L): 287.1±43.6 vs. 354.5±56.2, endotoxin (kEU/L): 1.4±0.5 vs. 2.6±0.8, BUN (mmol/L): 8.7±3.6 vs. 18.5±6.4, SCr (μmol/L): 143±39 vs. 197±42, ALT (U/L): 141±27 vs. 183±34, PaO2/FiO2 (mmHg, 1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa): 150.3±45.4 vs. 124.7±32.1, all P < 0.05], and the difference was significant up to 72 hours. In the treatment group, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, and endotoxin could be decreased in the filtrate 24 hours and 48 hours after treatment and they correlated with the lowering tendency of their plasma levels. Compared with the control group, CVVH based on conventional treatment of severe sepsis could significantly reduce the incidence of MODS (10.8% vs. 29.7%, χ2 = 4.423, P = 0.038) and mortality (5.4% vs. 13.5%, χ2 = 4.674, P = 0.032), and remarkably shortened the duration of mechanical ventilation (days: 3.1±0.6 vs. 5.3±1.7, t = 2.103, P = 0.045), and the length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay (days: 8.5±1.7 vs. 13.2±2.4, t = 2.245, P = 0.042). Conclusion Early CBP can decrease the level of pro-inflammatory cytokines, prevent MODS, and remarkably improve the prognosis of patients with severe sepsis.

Objective To explore the effectiveness of early enteral nutrition (EN) support and growth hormone (GH) treatment in critically ill patients.Methods Seventy critically ill patients were randomly divided into early EN support group and early EN support plus GH treatment group.The nutrition intakes were isonitrogenic and isocalorie in these two groups.Body weight,blood biochemistry,nutritional statues,and lactulose/mannitol levels were measured or analyzed before and after nutrition support.Immunologic functions were analyzed after ten days.Nitrogen balance was measured daily.Results The changes of body weight,albumin level,and transferrin level were more obvious in the EN + GH group than those in the EN group without significant difference (P ＞0.05).The changes of prealbumin and fibronectin in the EN + GH group were significantly higher than those in the EN group (P ＜ 0.05).The level of IgA in the EN + GH group was significantly lower than that in the EN group,while the levels of CD4 and NK in the EN + GH group was significandy higher than those in the EN group (P ＜0.05).The gut barrier function in the EN + GH group was superior to that in the EN group during nutrition support (P ＜0.05).Nitrogen balance was positive in the EN + GH group and negative in the EN group (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Early EN can improve the nutritional status and reduce complications in critically ill patients.GH treatment may strengthen the immune function and remarkably decrease the disability and mortality in critically ill patients.