How the immune system responds to sepsis and affects long-term health

A Systems Immunology Approach to Characterize the Immune Response in Sepsis and Its Long-term Complications

Radboud University Medical Center · NCT07273344

This study will try to identify different immune response types in adults with sepsis by collecting blood samples and tracking their short- and long-term outcomes.

Quick facts

Study typeObservational
Enrollment400 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorRadboud University Medical Center (other)
Drugs / interventionschemotherapy, prednisone, immunotherapy
Locations1 site (Nijmegen, Gelderland)
Trial IDNCT07273344 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This multicenter prospective observational cohort will enroll about 400 adults with sepsis (Sepsis-3 criteria) admitted to intensive or medium care. Researchers will collect serial blood samples and detailed clinical data without changing patient treatment to measure immune cells, circulating mediators, and epigenetic markers. Patients will be grouped into immunotypes based on these biomarkers and those groups will be correlated with acute outcomes and longer-term morbidity and mortality. The primary goal is biomarker discovery and patient stratification to guide future precision immunotherapies rather than testing an experimental treatment.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults (age ≥18) who meet Sepsis-3 criteria (SOFA increase ≥2) and are admitted to intensive or medium care, and who are not chronically immunosuppressed, are ideal candidates.

Not a fit: Patients with chemotherapy-induced or long-term neutropenia, CD4 counts under 400 cells/µL, primary immunodeficiency, chronic high-dose corticosteroid use, current biologic therapy, or recent solid-organ or allogeneic bone marrow transplant are excluded and unlikely to benefit.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could help doctors match patients to immune-targeted therapies and reduce organ damage and long-term complications after sepsis.

How similar studies have performed: Previous observational studies have identified immune subtypes in sepsis and linked them to outcomes, but results have been inconsistent and have not yet produced widely used targeted treatments.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Adults (≥18years).
* Sepsis 3 criteria: defined as having a suspected or documented infection accompanied by organ dysfunction, represented by a total Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA-2) score 2 or more for new admissions or as 2 or more point-increase of the total SOFA-2 score for hospitalized patients.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Known chemotherapy-induced or long-term neutropenia.
* Known CD4 counts \<400 cells/µL.
* History of primary immunodeficiency
* Chronic intake of corticosteroids (defined as total daily dose equal or greater than 0.4 mg/kg of equivalent prednisone for more than the last 15 days).
* Current use of biologics.
* Solid organ transplant recipients.
* Recipients of allogeneic bone marrow transplants.

Where this trial is running

Nijmegen, Gelderland

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: Sepsis, observational, sepsis, cohort study, immune endotypes, endotypes, immunotypes, post-sepsis syndrome

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.