SMPD1 and infection: To evaluate the prognostic value of SMPD1 splicing in patients with severe sepsis/septic shock we analyzed splice-isoform fractions for several clinical outcome parameters: 28-day survival, progression in Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score (SOFA) [17] between onset of sepsis (day 1) and day five, Simplified Acute Physiology Score (SAPS-II) [18] at onset of sepsis (day 1) and site of infection.