Oxidative Stress as Marker of Sepsis in Onco Hematological Patients: A Pilot Study

Background: Oxidative status can be altered in cancer. Objective: To evaluate the role of oxidative stress as plasma biomarker able to predict sepsis severity in oncohaematological patients experiencing infections after chemotherapy. Methods: Spectrophotometric measurement of Reactive oxigen metabolites (ROMs) levels and Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in 15 patients prospectively enrolled and 52 healthy volunteers. Results: ROMs baseline values were higher in patients and raised during fever. Severe sepsis was associated with the highest degree of ROMs increase. TAC levels were always low, both at baseline and during infection. Conclusions: Our results confirm oxidative status derangement during post-chemotherapy infections. ROMs concentrations could represent an easily detectable biomarker correlated with sepsis severity in post-chemotherapy neutropenia.