Meijer MT, Uhel F, Cremer OL, et al. - Researchers performed this inquiry among adult patients admitted to ICU with abdominal sepsis or following major abdominal surgery for a non-infectious condition (post-op GI patients), to analyze the temporal dynamics of plasma trefoil factor 3 (TFF3) in these patient populations. Participants were 143 patients with abdominal sepsis and 98 post-op GI patients. Measurements of TFF3 were obtained on admission to the ICU (day 0) and at days 2 and 4 thereafter. From day 0 to 4, sustained rise in plasma TFF3 levels was detected in abdominal sepsis patients vs healthy control values, while no rise in admission TFF3 levels was evident in post-op GI patients, only increase was noted at day 2 and 4. In both groups of patients, a correlation was noted between presence of shock and higher TFF3 levels. Higher plasma TFF3 levels were identified in patients with 3 or more organs failing. While sepsis patients who did not survive until day 30 were found to have higher plasma TFF3, a Cox regression analysis revealed no independent link of TFF3 levels with 30-day mortality. Overall, the hypothesis that intestinal injury contributes to the pathogenesis of critical illness could be supported by these data.