Oxidative-Nitrosative Stress and Myocardial Dysfunctions in Sepsis: Evidence from the Literature and Postmortem Observations

Figure 4

8-Hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) expression in the cardiac tissue of patient died following sepsis. Bright field (a) and contrast phase (b) microscopy image of cardiac sample of a septic patient, showing a high positive rate of 8-OHdG expression in myocardial nuclei using an anti-8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) antibody (JaICA, Japan). Personal observation of a 31-year-old woman with severe burn wounds of the right thigh. After two days of antibiotic therapy, her clinical condition worsened with the onset of cardiac failure symptoms. Immediate transthoracic echocardiogram revealed profound diffuse hypokinesis and severely depressed systolic function of the left ventricle with ejection fraction of 21%, right ventricular dilatation, and no valvular abnormalities. Fluid and vasopressor support were started; however, several hours later, LV function started to deteriorate with severe hemodynamic instability and progression to death.

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