A Method for Differentiating Sepsis and Septic Shock Based on Phenylalanine Hydroxylase and Lactate Dehydrogenase Activity

The present method relates to improving the prognosis, diagnosis, and treatment of sepsis and septic shock. Despite the availability of advanced treatment, sepsis, and septic shock have the highest mortality in the intensive care unit (ICU). Theories suggested that hyperinflammation is a major characteristic of septic shock, but oxidative stress plays a major role in disease pathogenesis. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy-based quantitative assessment of metabolites was performed to compare the activity of lactate dehydrogenase and phenylalanine hydroxylase between sepsis, septic shock, and disease control in sepsis and septic shock by comparing pyruvate/lactate (Pyr/Lac) and phenylalanine/tyrosine (Phe/Tyr) ratios. These ratios were evaluated and found to be used as an effective tool for diagnosis, prognosis, evaluation of disease activity, and treatment response.