Introduction
Sepsis is a life-threatening condition characterized by multi-organ dysfunction resulting from a dysregulated immune response to infection.1 Prominently characterized by organ hypoperfusion, sepsis is accompanied by systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), which can lead to extensive tissue damage.2 Sepsis carries a high mortality rate and leads to long-term complications,3 including the progression of chronic diseases, impaired immune function, residual organ damage, and other factors that influence patient survival.4 Currently, biomarkers like procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) are commonly used in sepsis diagnosis. PCT is a well-known biomarker that increases during severe infections, including sepsis.5 CRP, an acute-phase protein, also rises in response to inflammation.5 However,…