Summary

VolitionRx Limited’s report from the ESICM Lives 2024 symposium demonstrated that the Nu.Q NETs sepsis test can predict which patients are at higher risk of deteriorating from sepsis.

Takeaways

  1. Research Scope: The symposium covered findings from three large independent studies across France, Germany, and the Netherlands, involving over 3,000 sepsis patients.
  2. Key Finding: Elevated levels of circulating H3.1 nucleosomes, detected by the Nu.Q NETs test, are linked to increased risks of mortality and severe complications in sepsis patients.
  3. Clinical Impact: Using the Nu.Q NETs test in hospitals could revolutionize sepsis management by allowing early prediction and intervention, potentially improving patient survival and quality of life.

VolitionRx Limited, a multi-national epigenetics company, has published a report, from its “NETs in sepsis management” symposium at ESICM Lives 2024 in September that concluded that Nu.Q NETs, sepsis test, could be used to predict patients at greater risk of deteriorating from sepsis.

Sepsis Test Research Finding Presented

The symposium explored research findings from three large, independent studies carried out at centers of excellence in France, Germany, and the Netherlands, involving more than 3,000 sepsis patients. All three clinical studies used Volition’s Nu.Q NETs test to measure levels of circulating H3.1 nucleosomes in the bloodstream, a surrogate marker for Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs).

“The findings of these studies, summarized in Volition’s report, clearly and consistently show that an elevated level of circulating H3.1 nucleosomes in sepsis patients reflects a dysregulated immune response and is associated with an increased risk of mortality, renal failure, respiratory failure, multi-organ failure, and septic shock,” says Djillali Annane, MD, PhD, professor of Medicine at University Paris Saclay-UVSQ and Chair of Volition’s ESICM Lives symposium. “As a physician, we now know that sepsis patients, with an elevated H3.1 level on admission to intensive care, are at greater risk of deteriorating and we need to act quickly. I believe that using the Nu.Q NETs test to measure elevated H3.1 nucleosome levels as a “treatable trait” in sepsis management could be a game changer in modifying a patient’s trajectory. Introducing Nu.Q NETs into hospitals could lead to new ways of treating sepsis, improve patient survival and the quality of life of survivors.”

Andrew Retter, BSC, MBBS, MRCP, FRCPATH(HAEM), DICM, chief medical officer at Volition, added to Annane’s comments.

“Nu.Q NETs, Volition’s nucleosome quantification technology, is a simple, low-cost, accessible test to detect diseases associated with NETosis. Although NETs play a critical role in our normal immune response, elevated levels of NETs can lead to tissue damage and in severe cases, sepsis, organ failure, and death,” he says. “Being able to predict a sepsis patient’s clinical course early, by using Nu.Q NETs in clinical practice, could significantly enhance sepsis management, enabling physicians more time to intervene and improve patient outcomes.”