Predictive value of soluble fibrinogen-like protein 2 for survival in traumatic patients with sepsis

Abstract

BackgroundDespite significant advances in the diagnosis and management of sepsis and trauma over the past few decades, severe infection and injury continue to represent major public health challenges. Fibrinogen-like protein 2 (FGL2), a member of the fibrinogen family, can be expressed as a membrane-associated protein with coagulation activity or in a secreted form possessing unique immune suppressive functions. In this study, we evaluated whether soluble fibrinogen-like protein 2 (sFGL2) can serve as a biomarker to predict the development of sepsis in trauma patients. MethodssFGL2 concentrations were determined by ELISA assays in sera of 75 trauma patients clinically classified into non-sepsis group and sepsis group. For comparison, 15 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals were included. ResultssFGL2 concentrations were dramatically elevated in trauma patients compared to healthy controls. In the patient group, the patients with sepsis showed a significant increase in sFGL2 concentrations compared with non-septic patients. Moreover, non-survivors of septic patients displayed higher sFGL2 concentrations compared with survivors. In addition, sFGL2 concentrations were positively correlated with Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores, serum IL-8 and IL-10 concentrations, but reversely correlated with Glasgow coma scale (GCS) scores, platelet and lymphocyte counts. Furthermore, sFGL2 was found to be an independent predictor of 28-day mortality in traumatic patients with sepsis by logistic regression analysis. ConclusionsFGL2 concentrations were significantly correlated with the development and mortality of sepsis in traumatic patients. Thus, sFGL2 may serve as a potential indicator for traumatic patients with sepsis.