Blood lactate and interleukin-6 role in the prediction of septic shock in children at Ninh Thuan General hospital, 2025-2026
Main Article Content
Abstract
A prospective cohort study was conducted on 72 children aged 2 months to 15 years old diagnosed with sepsis at Ninh Thuan General Hospital from July 2025 to April 2026 to determine the value of blood lactate and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in predicting septic shock. The proportion of septic shock was 13.9%. Blood lactate and IL-6 levels were significantly higher in the shock group compared to the non shock group (p < 0.05). ROC curve analysis showed that both markers had good discriminative ability for septic shock the optimal cut off value of lactate was 4.8 mmol/L (sensitivity 83.3%, specificity 80.0%) and IL-6 was 40.78 pg/mL (sensitivity 95.1%, specificity 74.2%). After 24 hours of treatment, lactate and IL 6 levels decreased markedly, reflecting improvement in tissue perfusion and inflammatory response. Combining lactate and IL 6 values facilitates early prediction of septic shock in children, which is particularly useful at provincial general hospitals.
Article Details
Keywords
Sepsis, septic shock, blood lactate, interleukin-6, children
References
2. Gray AP, Chung E, Hsu RL, et al. Global, regional, and national sepsis incidence and mortality, 1990–2021: a systematic analysis. The Lancet Global Health. 2025; 13(12): e2013-e2026. doi:10.1016/S2214-109X(25)00356-0.
3. Rose-John S. Interleukin-6. In: Offermanns S, Rosenthal W, eds. Encyclopedia of Molecular Pharmacology. Springer International Publishing; 2021: 872-880.
4. Ahmad R, Basha NR, Kumar M, et al. Shock: Pathophysiology, Classification, and the Role of Lactate in Diagnosis and Prognosis. Cardiol Rev. Jan 21 2026; doi:10.1097/crd.0000000000001189.
5. Moustafa AA, Elhadidi AS, El-Nagar MA, Hassouna HM. Can Lactate Clearance Predict Mortality in Critically Ill Children? J Pediatr Intensive Care. Jun 2023; 12(2): 112-117. doi:10.1055/s-0041-1730930.
6. Song J, Park DW, Moon S, et al. Diagnostic and prognostic value of interleukin-6, pentraxin 3, and procalcitonin levels among sepsis and septic shock patients: a prospective controlled study according to the Sepsis-3 definitions. BMC Infect Dis. Nov 12 2019; 19(1):968. doi:10.1186/s12879-019-4618-7.
7. Nguyễn Thị Quỳnh, Hoàng Kim Lâm, Nguyễn Thị Hà, và cs. Một số yếu tố liên quan đến sốc nhiễm khuẩn ở trẻ nhiễm khuẩn huyết do Staphylococcus aureus tại Bệnh viện Nhi Trung ương. Tạp chí Nghiên cứu Y học. 09/30 2025; 194(9): 424-432. doi:10.52852/tcncyh.v194i9.3889.
8. Schlapbach LJ, Watson RS, Sorce LR, et al. International Consensus Criteria for Pediatric Sepsis and Septic Shock. Jama. Feb 27 2024; 331(8): 665-674. doi:10.1001/jama.2024.0179.
9. Đỗ Thiện Hải, Nguyễn Văn Lâm. Đặc điểm lâm sàng, cận lâm sàng nhiễm khuẩn huyết mắc phải tại cộng đồng ở trẻ em. Tạp chí Nghiên cứu Y học. 03/26 2025; 188(3): 52-59. doi:10.52852/tcncyh.v188i3.3097.
10. Trần Quang Khải, Nguyễn Minh Phương, Bùi Quang Nghĩa, Lý Quốc Trung, Sơn Phương. So sánh giá trị của lactate máu với procalcitonin, C-reactive protein trong tiên lượng sốc nhiễm trùng ở trẻ em tại Bệnh viện Chuyên khoa Sản Nhi Sóc Trăng. Tạp chí Nghiên cứu Y học. 06/16 2025;191(6):151-158. doi:10.52852/tcncyh.v191i6.3431
11. Bhat A, Alsadhan N, Alsadhan N, et al. Procalcitonin and C-reactive protein as early diagnostic markers of sepsis or septic shock in children who presented with fever to the pediatric emergency department at a tertiary hospital, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. International Journal of Emergency Medicine. 2025/04/29 2025; 18(1): 87. doi:10.1186/s12245-025-00888-2.
12. Zanak K, Saikia D, Sharma S, Chattopadhya A. Lactate clearance at 6 hours after admission as a predictor of mortality in children with clinically suspected sepsis. Sri Lanka Journal of Child Health. 2022; doi:10.4038/sljch.v51i1.9996.
13. Fioretto JR, Martin JG, Kurokawa CS, et al. Interleukin-6 and procalcitonin in children with sepsis and septic shock. Cytokine. Aug 2008; 43(2): 160-4. doi:10.1016/j.cyto.2008.05.005.
14. Nazir M, Wani W, Dar SA, et al. Lactate clearance prognosticates outcome in pediatric septic shock during first 24 h of intensive care unit admission. J Intensive Care Soc. Nov 2019; 20(4): 290-298. doi:10.1177/1751143719855202.
15. Vivas MC, Villamarin Guerrero HF, Tascon AJ, Valderrama-Aguirre A. Plasma interleukin-6 levels correlate with survival in patients with bacterial sepsis and septic shock. Interv Med Appl Sci. Aug 2021; 11(4): 224-230. doi:10.1556/1646.2020.00006.