Huang W, Wang X, Xie F, et al. - As NLRP3 inflammasome, in case of their over-activation, can result in sepsis, researchers sought to determine if serum NLRP3 level can be used as a potential inflammatory biomarker in septic patients.

• Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to determine serum NLRP3 levels in five categories of patients: healthy controls (n = 30), ICU controls (n = 22), infection (n = 19), septic non-shock (n = 33), and septic shock (n = 83).

• Septic patients, especially septic shock patients, had increased serum NLRP3 levels.

• High-risk septic patients can be identified early using NLRP3.

• In septic patients, elevated NRLP3 levels are indicative of poor outcome.