Septic shock and chemotherapy-induced cytopenia: effects on microcirculation

Purpose Neutrophil and platelet activation and their interactions with endothelial cells are considered central features of sepsis-induced microcirculatory alterations. However, no study has evaluated the microvascular pattern of septic shock patients with chemotherapy-induced severe cytopenia. Methods Demographic and hemodynamic variables together with sublingual microcirculation recording [orthogonal polarization spectral imaging enhanced by sidestream dark-field technology (OPS-SDF) videomicroscopy] were collected in four groups of subjects: septic shock (SS, N = 9), septic shock in cytopenic patients (NSS, N = 8), cytopenia without infection (NEUTR, N = 7), and healthy controls (CTRL, N = 13). Except for controls, all measurements were repeated after complete resolution of septic shock and/or neutropenia. Video files were processed using appropriate software tool and semiquantitatively evaluated [total vascular density (TVD, mm/mm 2 ), perfused vessel density (PVD, mm/mm 2 ), proportion of perfused vessels (PPV, %), mean flow index (MFI), and flow heterogeneity index (FHI)]. Results Compared with controls, there were statistically significant microcirculatory alterations within all tested groups of patients (TVD: SS = 8.8, NSS = 8.8, NEUTR = 9.1 versus CTRL = 12.6, p