The Role of Serotonin in Intensive Care Patients

Exclusion Criteria

• •Withdrawal of consent
• •Serotonergic carcinoid syndrome, short bowel or other considerable comorbidity altering serotonin content in blood.
• •Intoxication prior to ICU admission.
• •HEALTHY CONTROLS
• •Any acute illness or injury
• •Ongoing autoimmune, malignant, infectious, or other inflammatory disease.
• •Severe psychiatric disease or drug abuse.
• •Use of any medication except oral contraceptives last two weeks.
• •Withdrawal of consent.
• •ICU CONTROLS
• •Withdrawal of consent
• •Clinical signs of infection with focal symptoms or temperature over 38,0°C.
• •Biochemical signs of infection or inflammation with leukocytes \> 11 x 10\^9/l, CRP \> 15 mg/l, or PCT \> 0,10 μg/l.
• •Respiratory failure with PaO2/FiO2 ratio \< 40 kPa.
• •Circulatory failure with MAP \< 60 or need for pressor treatment prior to sedation.
• •Thrombocytopenia or thrombocytosis with platelets \< 100 or \> 400 x 10\^9/l.
• •Serotonergic carcinoid syndrome, short bowel or other considerable comorbidity altering serotonin content in blood.
• •Extracranial autoimmune or malignant disease.
• •Severe psychiatric disease or drug abuse.
• •Intoxication or physical trauma prior to ICU admission.