Abstract PD-019: ROLE OF HEPCIDIN IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF SEPSIS AND SEPTIC SHOCK IN CHILDREN

Abstract

Aims & Objectives: The purpose of this study is to compare the diagnostic value of hepcidin level with white blood cell (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in pediatric sepsis and septic shock (SS). Methods A cohort of 89 individuals were divided into four groups: healthy control group (HCG, n=28), pediatric intensive care unit control group (PICUCG, n=17), sepsis group (SG, n=23), and SS group (SSG, n=21). WBC, CRP, PCT, IL-6, and hepcidin levels were studied in the PICUCG, SG, and SSG; while hepcidin and IL-6 levels were studied in the HCG. Results The mean age of participants was 46.7 ± 37.4 months. Of them, 53 (59.6%) were male and 36 (40.4%) were female. Hepcidin level was found to be significantly higher in the patients with sepsis and septic shock compared to both the healthy children and the non-septic PICU patients (Table 1). In distinguishing SG and SSG from HCG, hepcidin sensitivity and specificity found to be 100%. In distinguishing between the PICUCG and the SG, hepcidin sensitivity and specificity were calculated as 95.6% and 100%, respectively (Figure 1). The sensitivity of WBC, CRP and PCT was lower than hepcidin, but the sensitivity of IL-6 was higher than hepcidin. While the specificity of PCT and IL-6 was same to hepcidin, the specificity of WBC and CRP was lower than hepcidin (Table 2). Conclusions Hepcidin is a more reliable indicator than WBC and CRP in distinguishing children with sepsis and septic shock from healthy children and non-septic PICU patients.