THE EFFECTS OF PLASMA AND ALBUMIN INFUSION ON ORGAN FUNCTION AND SEPSIS MARKERS IN EXPERIMENTAL GRAM-NEGATIVE SEPSIS

To study the effects of early plasma versus albumin infusion on vital organ function and the appearance of central sepsis mediators in septi c shock, three groups of anesthetized piglets (n = 28) were inoculated with live Escherichia coli. Group I received fresh frozen plasma, gro up II received albumin, whereas group III served as nontreated septic controls. Plasma-treated animals exhibited improved survival (p <.02) compared with controls, and improved organ function compared with both controls and albumin-treated animals. Plasma infusion was associated with increased levels of endotoxin (p <.02) and terminal complement co mplex (TCC) (p <.03), and persisting high levels of tumor necrosis fac tor (TNF). Following albumin infusion TNF levels decreased to baseline values (p <.01), whereas endotoxin and TCC levels did not change sign ificantly. Our study shows a beneficial effect of early plasma infusio n on survival and vital organ function in septic animals. The effect o f plasma infusion on circulating levels of endotoxin, TNF, and TCC may be potentially deleterious in uncompensated stages of septic shock.