Trace Elements and Sepsis: Is there a Correlation?

Background: In critical illness blood levels of trace elements vary with the acute phase reaction. Quantitative estimation of it (Serum Selenium and Serum Zinc) can be used as prognostic markers. Aim and Objective: To evaluate the correlation between trace elements and sepsis and correlate it with various other prognostic markers with mortality in sepsis. Material and Methods: It was a prospective, observational study. One hundred and fifty patients of sepsis were enrolled after using inclusion and exclusion criteria for study. Serum Selenium and Zinc were done by Perkin-Elmer Optima ICP spectrometer. Results: One hundred and fifty patients of sepsis due to various pathological causes included in study. Mortality was 37.34%. APACHE II (33.23±5.93) and SAPS II score (67.43±10.55) was found to statisticallysignificant in predicting the mortality (p<0.001). Serum selenium in expired group of patients was found to be lower (38.26±20.82) as compared to survivors (44.34±18.99). Similarly serum zinc also appears to be lower amongdeceased (65.90±54.72) as compared to survivors (71.94±54.29) but this difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Our study shows that the patients with sepsis with lower level of serum selenium and serum zinc have poor outcome, but levels fails to correlate with severity of illness and death statistically.