Risk factors for mortality:
(1) Type I pattern (of Wan et al, see previous section)
(2) bilateral disease
(3) conservative management (fluid resuscitation, control of diabetes, and antibiotic therapy)
(4) thrombocytopenia
Additional risk factors:
(1) hypotension (systolic blood pressure < 90 mm Hg)
(2) acute renal failure (serum creatinine > 2.5 g/dL; or increasing serum creatinine)
(3) confusion, delirium, stupor or coma
where:
• The odds ratio for thrombocytopenia was almost 23, while the others ranged from 2 to 5).
• The cutoff for thrombocytopenia was not defined precisely. The paper referred to cutoffs of 40,000 and 120,000 per µL.
• Some of the patients with thrombocytopenia had evidence of DIC.
• An increasing creatinine was (a) an increase > 1 mg/dL when the baseline was < 3.0 mg/dL or (b) an increase >= 0.5 mg/dL when the baseline was >= 3.0 mg/dL.
• Percutaneous drainage was considered more aggressive management. Early nephrectomy may be necessary.
• Many of these risk factors reflect organ failures.
