SEREALEffects of Selenium Replacement on Prognosis of Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock Patients and Their Initial Serum Selenium Level: a Randomized, Double-blind Placebo Controlled Phase 2 Study

This study is a single center, randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial. After the diagnosis of severe sepsis and septic shock, enrolled patients will be randomized. Then, selenium or placebo will be intravenously administered to them for 7 days. Hemodynamic and laboratory data will be recorded for 7 days and additional serum samples will be obtained at 0, 24, 72, and 168 hours post-treatment and stored. Mortality will be observed for 28 days. An interim analysis will be conducted by the independent data safety monitoring board. Serum selenium levels will be measured from the stored serum samples after the study completion.