Diagnostic Value of Plasma Soluble Triggering Receptor Expressed on Myeloid Cells-1 in Children with Urinary Tract Infections

Abstract

Abstract Objective The aim of the present study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of soluble triggering receptor on myeloid cells-1 as a novel marker for diagnosis of childhood urinary tract infections (UTI). Methods This study enrolled 30 pediatric patients diagnosed with acute febrile UTIs; 30 healthy children were included as the control group. The blood samples from the patients and healthy controls were collected for a soluble triggering receptor on myeloid cells-1 (sTREM-1) test. Results The study group was composed of 9 males and 21 females, and the mean age of the study population was 6.6 ± 3.2 (range = 1–14) years. sTREM-1 levels were significantly higher in UTI patients than in the controls (592 ± 323 vs. 490 ± 299 pg/mL, p = 0.04). The receiver operating curve analysis revealed a cut-off value of soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 of 514 ng/mL (area under the curve = 0.562). When the cut-off value was taken 514 pg/mL, soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 had a sensitivity of 57% and a specificity of 50% for the diagnosis of UTI. Conclusion The present study revealed that plasma sTREM-1 level may be elevated in UTI and may therefore serve as a useful predictive tool for the diagnosis of UTI.