Background. The monocyte distribution width (MDW) has been recently proposed as a sepsis biomarker in the emergency department. The aim of this study was to assess the role of MDW as a diagnostic biomarker of sepsis in the intensive care unit (ICU).

Methods. In this prospective observational study, we included all consecutive patients admitted to the ICU of the University Hospital “P. Giaccone” of Palermo. Patients were classified into three groups according to Sepsis-3 criteria: 1) patients without sepsis; 2) patients developing sepsis during their hospital stay; 3) patients admitted with sepsis. MDW was measured at admission (group 1, 2, 3) and daily until the developing of sepsis (group 2) or the end of hospitalization (group 1).

Results. MDW was significantly higher in group 3 than group 1 and group 2 [30.9 (25.6-36.0) vs 20.3 (18.3-23.6) and 21.4 (19.4 – 25.2)]. Among patients belonging to group 2, MDW values, measured at the day when sepsis was clinically diagnosed, were significantly higher than those found at admission: 29.4 (26.7-36.0) vs 21.4 (19.4-25.2), p=0.001.

Conclusion. MDW could represent a reliable biomarker of sepsis in the ICU.

背景。最近，急诊科已提出单核细胞分布宽度（MDW）作为败血症生物标志物。这项研究的目的是评估MDW作为重症监护病房（ICU）败血症的诊断生物标志物的作用。

方法。在这项前瞻性观察性研究中，我们纳入了大学附属医院ICU收治的所有连续患者。Giacconeâ??? 巴勒莫。根据脓毒症3标准将患者分为三组：1）无脓毒症的患者；2）住院期间出现败血症的患者；3）败血症患者。在入院时（第1、2、3组）和每天测量MDW，直到败血症发生（第2组）或住院结束（第1组）。

结果。第3组中的MDW显着高于第1组和第2组[30.9（25.6-36.0）对20.3（18.3-23.6）和21.4（19.4→25.2）]。在属于第2组的患者中，在临床诊断为败血症的当天测得的MDW值显着高于入院时发现的值：29.4（26.7-36.0）vs 21.4（19.4-25.2），p = 0.001。

结论。MDW可能代表ICU中败血症的可靠生物标志物。