Introduction: Omentin-1 is a novel adipokine implicated in inflammatory and infectious diseases. However, omentin-1 has not been studied in sepsis.

Aims and objectives: To explore serum omentin-1 kinetics in new onset sepsis in critically ill patients.

Methods: We prospectively enrolled 102 critically ill patients with new onset sepsis (57 males, age 64.7±15.6 years, APACHE II 23±7.2, SOFA 10±3.3) and 102 age- and gender-matched healthy controls. Omentin-1 was determined in serum by ELISA within 48 hours from sepsis onset and one week after enrollment.

Results: Omentin-1 was significantly higher in patients compared to controls (763.3 ± 249.3 vs. 451.7 ± 122.3 ?g/L, p<0.001) while it increased significantly one week later (950.6 ± 215.5 vs. 763.3 ± 249.3 ?g/L, p<0.001). Patients with septic shock (N=42) had significantly higher omentin-1 than those with sepsis (N=60) at sepsis onset (877.9 ± 241.2 vs. 683.1 ± 223.7 ?g/L, p<0.001) and one week after (1020.4 ± 224.7 vs. 901.7 ± 196.3 ?g/L, p<0.01), but lower percentage change from baseline during the first week of sepsis (?(omentin-1)% 20.2 ± 23.3% vs. 39.8 ± 35.9%, p=0.01). ROC curve analysis showed that omentin-1 and CRP at enrollment performed similarly in discriminating sepsis severity (AUC 0.74 and 0.78 respectively) and outperformed procalcitonin, interleukins 6 and 10, and suPAR. Finally, omentin-1 at enrollment significantly correlated with the severity scores, CRP, white blood cells, creatinine and coagulation biomarkers (p<0.05).

Conclusions: Serum omentin-1 is increased in sepsis while higher levels as well as lower kinetics during the first week of sepsis are associated with the severity of sepsis.