Changes in the sublingual microcirculation and endothelial adhesion molecules during the course of severe meningococcal disease treated in the paediatric intensive care unit.

Purpose The sublingual microcirculation can be visualised in real time using sidestream dark-field (SDF) imaging. Endothelial activation mediated through adhesion molecules may alter flow patterns in the microcirculation. We studied sublingual microcirculatory disturbances in children with meningococcal disease (MCD) and simultaneously measured plasma levels of adhesion molecules.