Previous studies revealed that IL-6 is an independent predictor for mortality [18–20, 36]; one cohort study suggested that PTX3 levels at admission can predict 28-day mortality in a community-based hospital [38], and another study reported that PTX3 can predict 30-day and 6-month mortality in patients with sepsis and septic shock during intensive care treatment [39]. Here, IL6 is linked to septic shock.