A METHOD OF ESTIMATING RISK OF SEVERE SEPSIS IN AN INDIVIDUAL WITH INFECTION

摘要

A method of estimating sepsisrisk in an individual with infection comprisesa step of assaying a biological samplefrom the individual for an IL-2 or IL-7mRNA value, and correlating the mRNAvalue with sepsis risk. The IL-2 and IL-7mRNA values are quantified by absolutequantification of mRNA copy number,wherein the copy numbers are normalised toa house keeping gene and corrected againsta calibration curve for serial dilutions of theIL-2 and IL-7 cDNA. The method generallyinvolves a step of assaying a biological samplefrom the individual for IL-2 and/or IL-7mRNA values, optionally in combinationwith mRNA values for other cytokines, andcorrelating a sum or difference of the valueswith sepsis risk using a regression analysiscurve against outcome.