TRIPLE ANTI-TNF-ALPHA THERAPY IN EARLY SEPSIS - A PRELIMINARY-REPORT

Ten of 26 patients with sepsis were given a combination of dexamethaso ne (0.15 mg/kg, intravenously, once on admission), colchicine (0.5 mg, orally, daily, for 3 days) and pentoxifylline (DCP) (400 mg, orally, daily, for 3 days), together with best medical therapy. Serum tumour n ecrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) levels were undetectable at 24 h comp ared with about 4 IU/ml (mean) in 16 similar control patients who were not given DCP (P < 0.06). Although the clinical course in the two gro ups was not significantly different, this simple, well-tolerated and i nexpensive regimen should be further evaluated as a possible means of preventing the deleterious effects of TNF-alpha in sepsis.