Baseline serum matrix metalloproteinase-8 and 28-day mortality in sepsis at ICU admission
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By
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Huanqin Liu
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Yingkui Song
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Yanan Lv
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Feng Qu
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Jikui Shi
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January 31, 2026
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Clinical Scorecard: Initial Serum Levels of Matrix Metalloproteinase-8 and 28-Day Mortality Rates in Sepsis Upon ICU Admission
At a Glance
| Category | Detail |
|---|
| Condition | Sepsis |
| Key Mechanisms | Neutrophil-derived MMP-8 reflects inflammatory injury via extracellular matrix degradation and tissue damage |
| Target Population | Adult ICU patients meeting Sepsis-3 criteria |
| Care Setting | Intensive Care Unit (ICU) upon admission |
Key Highlights
- Higher baseline serum MMP-8 levels at ICU admission are independently associated with increased 28-day mortality in sepsis.
- MMP-8 improves prognostic discrimination beyond established clinical models including SOFA score and lactate.
- Persistent elevation of MMP-8 during the first week is observed in non-survivors, indicating ongoing inflammatory injury.
Guideline-Based Recommendations
Diagnosis
- Measure serum MMP-8 at ICU admission as an early biomarker reflecting neutrophil-driven inflammatory injury in sepsis.
Management
- Use MMP-8 levels to aid early risk stratification and identify patients at higher risk of short-term mortality.
Monitoring & Follow-up
- Consider serial MMP-8 measurements during the first week to monitor ongoing inflammatory activity and prognosis.
Risks
- Interpret elevated MMP-8 cautiously as it is not specific to sepsis and may be elevated in other systemic inflammatory conditions.
- Recognize limitations due to single-center data, assay variability, and potential confounding factors.
Patient & Prescribing Data
274 adult sepsis patients admitted to ICU, excluding malignancy or severe immunosuppression
Baseline MMP-8 levels provide prognostic information independent of age, comorbidities, infection source, and organ failure scores.
Clinical Best Practices
- Incorporate MMP-8 measurement alongside established clinical scores (SOFA, lactate) for enhanced mortality risk prediction.
- Recognize the additive prognostic value of MMP-8 particularly in patients with elevated admission lactate (≥4 mmol/L).
- Validate MMP-8 findings in external cohorts before routine clinical implementation.
- Compare MMP-8 with other inflammatory biomarkers (procalcitonin, CRP, lactate) in future studies to define clinical utility.
References
