Gluconeogenesis Rates and Its Precursors in Pediatric Sepsis

This is an observational study, aimed at exploring: i) gluconeogenesis rates ii) sources of gluconeogenesis and pyruvate cycling, and iii) protein kinetics in critically ill children and adolescents, and its differences by age group, as well as in comparison to healthy adolescents. The study size will include 45 critically ill septic, pediatric patients (22 children at 5-12 years of age and 23 adolescents' at 13-19 years of age), male and females admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) at Children's Medical Center, Dallas. The minimal subject's weight will be 17kg. Additionally, 30 healthy adolescents matched by age, gender, BMI and Tanner stage will be studied at the Clinical Translational Research Center at Zale Lipshy Hospital, to serve as healthy adolescent controls. The number of subjects includes an expected drop out rate of about 20%, in order to obtain 18 patients with complete data in each group. Patients will receive nutritional support as per standard care. This study will yield important knowledge and may lead in the future to changes in the current practice on the management of critically ill pediatric patients in the PICU.