Correlation between serum zinc and mortality in septic patients.

Objective Activation of acute phase response occurs in initial stage of sepsis, with rapid decline in zinc blood levels for intracellular mobilization to synthesize acute phase proteins. Our study aim was to explore if there is a correlation between serum zinc levels and mortality in septic patients. Design A comparative prospective observational study. Setting Intensive Care Department of Alexandria University Hospitals. Patients 100 patients with proved sepsis according to the Surviving sepsis Campaign guidelines and in need for ICU admission. Methods Patients were followed up for 28 days. Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score were calculated in every patient using the data at enrollment. Venous blood samples were obtained on admission for determination of a panel of markers including serum lactate, C-reactive protein, procalcitonin level, and serum zinc levels. All parameters were correlated with mortality. Results APACHE II score, SOFA score, serum lactate, CRP, procalcitonin, and serum zinc could predict mortality without significant statistical difference in-between, (p ? 0.05). There was an inverse statistical correlation between serum zinc levels and all other studied parameters Conclusion Low serum zinc levels may be one of the predictors of mortality in septic patients.