Table 3 Baseline characteristics grouped by peak TNF-α levels post-LPS challenge

Age: Mean ± SD (range)

65.9 ± 15.4

64.8 ± 13.9

61.4 ± 15.8

64.0 ± 15.1)

0.215

Sex: Female

36 (53.7%)

34 (50.7%)

27 (40.3%)

97 (48.3%)

0.263

Primary Diagnosis

0.001

 Cardiovascular

10 (14.9%)

15 (22.4%)

7 (10.4%)

32 (15.9%)

 Respiratory

27 (40.3%)

14 (20.9%)

15 (22.4%)

56 (27.9%)

 Neurologic

12 (17.9%)

3 (4.5%)

15 (22.4%)

30 (14.9%)

 Sepsis

10 (14.9%)

20 (29.9%)

14 (20.9%)

44 (21.9%)

 Trauma

5 (7.5%)

3 (4.5%)

7 (10.4%)

15 (7.5%)

 Other

3 (4.5%)

12 (17.9%)

9 (13.4%)

24 (11.9%)

APACHE II: Mean ± SD

24.2 ± 7.0

25.6 ± 7.8

25.5 ± 9.5

25.1 ± 8.1

0.646

Vasopressor support: N (%)

52 (77.6%)

54 (80.6%)

44 (65.7%)

150 (74.6%)

0.11

Temperature: Mean °C ± SD

37.9 ± 0.9

37.6 ± 0.8

38.0 ± 1.0

37.9 ± 0.9

0.08

On Antibiotics: N (%)

43 (64.2%)

42 (62.7%)

41 (61.2%)

126 (62.7%)

0.938

Positive culture 48 hrs prior to or after randomization: N (%)

59 (88.1%)

60 (89.6%)

53 (79.1%)

172 (85.6%)

0.177

Adjudicated positive culture 48 hours prior to or after randomization: N (%)

43 (64.2%)

46 (68.7%)

40 (59.7%)

129 (64.2%)

0.557

Highest white blood cell: mean ± SD

14.5 ± 6.0

17.3 ± 9.4

17.0 ± 8.1

16.3 ± 8.0

0.277

Serum TNF-α: Mean pg/mL ± SD

6.5 ± 9.0

16.4 ± 27.7

21.3 ± 66.7

14.8 ± 42.4

<0.001

Post-LPS TNF-α: Mean pg/mL ± SD

0.6 ± 0.5

9.3 ± 8.0

255.4 ± 299.4

88.4 ± 208.9

<0.001

Change in TNF-α: pg/mL

-6.0 ± 9.0

-7.0 ± 29.1

234.1 ± 313.9

74.1 ± 214.4

<0.001

Serum IL-6: Mean pg/mL ± SD

483.2 ± 2823.8

1229.5 ± 5551.9

197.0 ± 485.6

636.6 ± 3615.2

0.081

Serum IL-10: Mean pg/mL ± SD

49.6 ± 81.6

143.2 ± 690.2

51.1 ±74.2

81.3 ± 403.9

0.700