Abstract: Objective To observe the changes of autophagy of peripheral blood lymphocytes in patients with sepsis and explore its clinical significance. Methods Total 10 healthy people, 20 patients with common infection and 20 patients with sepsis were divided into H group, I group and S group. According to the prognosis, the S group was divided into survival group(14 cases) and death group(6 cases). General data, WBC, PLT, ALT, Cr, albumin, blood glucose and APACHE Ⅱ scores were collected. Meanwhile, lymphocytes were isolated from venous blood to detect the relative expression of Beclin-1 and LC3 mRNA. Results There were no significant differences in age, gender, primary disease and infection site among the three groups(all P>0.05), but there were significant differences in WBC, PLT, alt, Cr, albumin and blood glucose(all P<0.01). There was significant difference in APACHE Ⅱ score between I group and S group(P<0.01). There was significant difference in the relative expression of Beclin-1 and LC3 mRNA between the three groups(all P<0.01). There was significant difference in the relative expression of Beclin-1 and LC3 mRNA between the survival group and the death group(all P<0.01). There was a linear negative correlation between APACHE Ⅱ score and Beclin-1(r=-0.452, P<0.001), and the linear model equation between APACHE Ⅱ score and Beclin-1 was Y=-20.83+41.67 X. There was a linear negative correlation between APACHE Ⅱ score and LC3(r=-0.641, P<0.001), and the linear model equation between APACHE Ⅱ score and Beclin-1 was Y=-6.25+62.5 X. In the diagnosis of sepsis, Beclin-1: area under ROC curve was 0.791, standard error was 0.070(P<0.001); LC3: area under ROC curve was 0.851, standard error was 0.066(P<0.001). Conclusion The autophagy level of venous blood lymphocytes in patients with sepsis is significantly reduced, which can reflect the immune status of sepsis and provide a new way for the diagnosis of sepsis.