Prognostic Marker In Sepsis Research Articles

Red Cell Distribution Width in Correlation with Sequential Organ Failure Assessment Score as a Prognostic Marker of Sepsis

Aim: To determine the significance of red cell distribution width as prognostic marker in patients with sepsis. To assess the clinical outcome by correlating red cell distribution width with SOFA score in patient with sepsis.
 Methods: This was a prospective study, which was conducted at tertiary care hospital , Pondicherry where we enrolled 71 patients above 18 years of age who had sepsis symptoms admitted in the medical ward/ICU. Patients with sepsis at admission were prospectively evaluated for correlation between RDW value, SOFA score both at admission , day 3 and day 7 with survivors and non-survivors. Besides the groups of raised and normal RDW, study population was further analyzed after categorizing into three RDW groups as follows: ≤14.2%, 14.2–15.2%, and >15.2% as well.
 Results: 71 sepsis patient’s age ranged from 25 to 91 years with a mean age of 60.39 years. The male gender was predominant. The causes of sepsis were multifactorial and pneumonia was the prime cause of sepsis. 41-60 and 61-80 years were predominant age groups and equal number of major non- survivors were also belongs to this age groups (14.08% each). The RDW showed highly significant difference between survivors and non-survivors (P<0.0001). The mortality rate was highly significant in moderate and higher RDW groups (P<0.0001). While the RDW values increased, the mortality rate was also increased in the present study. There was a significant association between RDW levels and severity of sepsis that leads to mortality. Comparison of diagnostic accuracy of both RDW and SOFA at the time of admission showed that RDW had 100 % sensitivity and specificity whereas SOFA showed 100 % and 50 % sensitivity and specificity respectively.
 Conclusion: By this study we could measure RDW value which is a part of an automated CBC which is a done routinely, which is cheap, easily available parameter on admission can be used as a prognostic marker in patients in sepsis.

Thromboelastograph:A prognostic marker in sepsis with organ dysfunction without overt bleeding.

Coagulation abnormalities are not infrequent in sepsis. It is unclear if abnormalities in thromboelastogram (TEG) are associated with mortality in patients with severe sepsis without overt bleeding. In this prospective study, patients were categorised as those with normal coagulation, hypercoagulable or hypercoagulable state based on admission TEG parameters (R time, K time, Maximum amplitude (MA), α angle). Their association with mortality was explored using Fisher's exact and Mann-Whitney U test as appropriate. The study cohort (n = 87; 49 male) with median (IQR) age 51 (42-60) years and admission SOFA score 8 (6-11) included scrub typhus (24.1%), pneumonia (22.6%) and urosepsis (10.3%). Non-invasive and invasive ventilation and vasopressors were required in 28.1%, 68.9% and 74%, respectively. Mortality was 24.1%. Based on R time, K time and α angle, 3.5% to 9.3% had a hypercoagulable state and 26.7 to 29.9% were hypocoagulable. Prolonged R time (p = 0.04) and reduced alpha angle (p = 0.01) in patients with hypocoagulable state was associated with mortality. K time, α angle and MA were significantly different in patients requiring transfusion (p < 0.001). A subset of patients with severe sepsis without overt bleeding are hypocoagulable. Hypocoagulability is associated with mortality and need for transfusion.

Presepsin versus Procalcitonin as Diagnostic and Prognostic Markers in Sepsis

Abstract Background: Sepsis is a type of systematic inflammatory response syndrome caused by invasion of pathogens or con-ditional pathogenic bacteria into the blood circulation. Aim of Study: To evaluate the value of the presepsin in early diagnosis of sepsis in comparison with procalcitonin (PCT) and assess prognostic significance of presepsin in sepsis evaluation in relation with PCT. Patients and Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted on 62 adult critically ill patients with sepsis and its related syndromes who were admitted to Ain Shams Uni-versity hospital general intensive Critical Care Unite, from November 2017 to February 2018. Serum level of presepsin and procalcitonin were measured on admission, 24 and 72 hours after admission. Results: There was positive significant correlation between procalcitonin and APACHE II score started from day 0 with p-value 0.011 and started to show strong direct correlation till day 3. Also, there was positive linear significant correlation between procalcitonin and values of SOFA score started from day 1 with p-value 0.005 and started to show strong direct correlation till day 3 with p-value 0.0001. While, there was significant correlation between presepsin and value of APACHE II score at day 0 with p-value 0.006 then insignificant correlation at day1 and started to show strong direct correlation at 3rd day with p-value 0.0001. Also, there was positive linear significant correlation between presepsin and values of SOFA score started from day 0 with p-value 0.035 and started to show strong direct correlation till day 3 with p-value 0.0001. Conclusion: Presepsin cannot differentiate between sepsis and non-infective SIRS since admission; it can predict severity, prognosis and patient outcome. The accuracy of presepsin in this context was seen by our results to be superior to PCT.

Comparison of Protein Carbonyl (PCO), Paraoxonase-1 (PON1) and C-Reactive Protein (CRP) as Diagnostic and Prognostic Markers of Septic Inflammation in Dogs.

Reliable diagnostic and prognostic markers of sepsis are lacking, but essential in veterinary medicine. We aimed to assess the accuracy of C-Reactive Protein (CRP), protein carbonyls (PCO) and paraoxonase-1 (PON1) in differentiating dogs with sepsis from those with sterile inflammation and healthy ones, and predict the outcome in septic dogs. These analytes were retrospectively evaluated at admission in 92 dogs classified into healthy, septic and polytraumatized. Groups were compared using the Kruskal–Wallis test, followed by a Mann–Whitney U test to assess differences between survivors and non-survivors. Correlation between analytes was assessed using the Spearman’s test, and their discriminating power was assessed through a Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve. PON1 and CRP were, respectively, significantly lower and higher in dogs with sepsis compared with polytraumatized and clinically healthy dogs (p < 0.001 for both the analytes), and also in dogs with trauma compared with healthy dogs (p = 0.011 and p = 0.017, respectively). PCO were significantly increased in septic (p < 0.001) and polytraumatized (p < 0.005) as compared with healthy dogs. PON1 and CRP were, respectively, significantly lower and higher in dogs that died compared with survivors (p < 0.001 for both analytes). Ultimately, evaluation of CRP and PON1 at admission seems a reliable support to diagnose sepsis and predict outcomes.

Increase in plasma Niemann\u2013Pick disease type C2 protein is associated with poor prognosis of sepsis

The functional significance of extracellular Niemann–Pick disease type C2 protein (NPC2) is poorly defined. It is not known whether there is an association between plasma NPC2 and sepsis. Our exploratory, quantitative proteomic analysis showed a significant increase in the level of plasma NPC2 in moribund sepsis patients. Thus, we subsequently determined NPC2 concentration in plasma from healthy subjects, pneumonia patients and sepsis patients with comorbid pneumonia; and analyzed the association of plasma NPC2 with organ dysfunction and prognosis of sepsis patients. Our data shows that plasma NPC2 concentration was significantly higher in pneumonia and sepsis patients than healthy subjects, and was further increased in sepsis patients when the SOFA score reached 14. In addition, NPC2 concentration was significantly higher in patients that subsequently developed septic shock or died within 30 days. Moreover, NPC2 level showed the strongest association with the degree of renal dysfunction in sepsis patients. In moribund sepsis patients, however, NPC2 had highest correlation coefficient with indicators of coagulation anomaly. Based on these results, we conclude that the increase in plasma NPC2 in sepsis patients is associated with multiple organ failure, possibly results from a deficiency in renal clearance, and may serve as a prognostic marker for sepsis.

Correlation of thyroid hormone profile and acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II) score with the survival in sepsis in a tertiary care centre

Background: Thyroid hormone plays a pivotal role in the adaptation of metabolic function to stress and critical illness like sepsis. Thyroid dysfunction is associated with increased mortality in sepsis. The role of thyroid dysfunction as a prognostic marker in sepsis remains unclear.&#x0D; Aims and Objectives: To correlate the baseline thyroid function tests with APACHE II score and mortality in adult patients admitted with sepsis in Intensive Care Unit (ICU).&#x0D; Materials and Methods: This was a cross sectional, observational study done for a period of one year from September 2019 to September 2020 in a tertiary care referral hospital. Patients admitted with sepsis to ICU were scored on admission using APACHE II score. Blood was sent for thyroid function tests on admission. Patients were divided into survivors and non-survivors based on the outcome. Statistical analysis was done by calculating mean values, Fisher’s exact test and Pearson’s correlation.&#x0D; Results: A total of 52 patients were included. The mean age was 55.65± 18.55 years with a male predominance (M: F=1.4:1). Pneumonia was the commonest cause of sepsis in the study (20 patients,38.5%). Mortality was seen in 20 patients (38.5%) The mean values of thyroid hormones were lower in non-survivors. APACHE II Score was higher among the non-survivors as compared to survivors. (21.7±5.571 vs 19.78 ± 5.939, p value&gt;0.05). Thyroid hormones (T3, T4, FT3, FT4) had a negative correlation with APACHE II score in non-survivors. TSH had significant positive correlation with APACHE II score in non-survivors (p value=0.027).&#x0D; Conclusion: Thyroid hormone levels did not correlate significantly with APACHE II score and mortality among the non-survivors of sepsis.

Red Cell Distribution Width As a Predictor of Mortality in Patients With Sepsis.

IntroductionSepsis is a common medical condition that is associated with very high mortality and, in survivors, long-term morbidity. Conventional inflammatory markers, such as CRP, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and white blood cell count (WBC), have proven to have a limited utility in sepsis patients by virtue of their poor sensitivity and specificity for infections. Recently, the commonly used index of red cell distribution width (RDW) has been implicated as a prognostic marker in sepsis. This study aimed at assessing the role of RDW in predicting outcomes such as mortality in patients with sepsis and to study its role as a prognostic marker.MethodsThis was conducted as a prospective comparative observational study over a two year period between 2018 and 2020 in a tertiary care center in South India. In total, 60 adult patients above 18 years of age who were diagnosed to have severe sepsis and septic shock were selected to be part of the study. To find the survival probability on overall survival, Kaplan-Meier analysis was used and a comparison was done using the Log-rank test. To find the most significant predictors of mortality, cox regression analysis was applied.ResultsA total of 60 patients (n=60) were enrolled in this study out of which 30 (50%) patients had a rise in RDW and 30 (50%) patients had a fall in RDW. A total of 17 (28.3%) patients died during this study. In the rise in RDW group, there were 12 (40%) deaths while in the fall in the RDW group, there were five (16.7%) deaths. There was a statistically significant association found between mortality with rise and fall in RDW (p<0.05). A cox multivariate regression analysis demonstrated statistically significant associations between a rise in RDW (p<0.05, HR: 5.6, CI 1.4 to 21.9) and serum hemoglobin < 13.6 g/dL (p<0.05, HR: 3.6, CI 1.1 to 11.4) with mortality in this study. Kaplan-Meier analysis of rise and fall in RDW with survival trended towards better survival outcomes in the fall in the RDW group but was not significant (p=0.07).ConclusionWe found that an increase in RDW from baseline during the initial 72 hours after admission is significantly associated with adverse clinical outcomes including mortality. The mortality in the rise in the RDW group, as well as overall mortality, were significantly higher than the mortality in the reduced RDW group. Hence, serial RDW measurements could be used as a prognostic factor in severe sepsis and septic shock.

Role Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio on Admission as a Predictor of in Hospital Mortality in Septic Patients

Background: Sepsis has high mortality globally. The key factor in decreasing the mortality is early diagnosis and the initiation of appropriate treatment within hours. Various biomarkers are in use for timely diagnosis but none is without limitation. It’s imperative to predict the mortality early in order to sensitize those involved in the care. We studied Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) as a prognostic marker in sepsis. Methodology: It was a retrospective study, conducted at Aga khan university hospital from 30th November 2020 to 31st March 2021. Data was calculated from patient medical record after approval from ERC. Multiple linear regression technique was used to determine the association between increased NLR with mortality. Results: Our study included 168 patients. The median (IQR) NLR of the patients was 10.4 (13.4). The mean SOFA score of the patients was noted to be 5.7 ± 2.9, mortality was reported in 26.1% (n=44) patients. Multiple linear regression showed NLR increased by 2.0 times with every mg/dl increased in average total bilirubin level (95% CI: 0.4-3.2), and by 1 times with every one unit increase in SOFA score (95% CI: 0.1-1.5). However, there was no significant association found between NLR and mortality rate. Conclusion: NLR is an effective marker for predicting sepsis; however, its role in predicting mortality is yet to be established.

Neutrophil CD64 a Diagnostic and Prognostic Marker of Sepsis in Adult Critically Ill Patients: A Brief Review.

IntroductionSepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction with increased incidence of morbidity and mortality. Early diagnosis and prompt therapeutic intervention is the cornerstone of sepsis care. Biomarkers play an important role in sepsis having both diagnostic and prognostic implications. Neutrophil CD64 (nCD64) is a useful candidate biomarker for sepsis. Neutrophil CD64 also known as Fc receptor 1 (FcR1), is a high-affinity receptor present on neutrophils for Fc part of immunoglobulin-G (IgG) heavy chain. Its expression gets strongly upregulated in response to proinflammatory cytokines of infection within 4–6 hours. Neutrophil CD64 integrates function involving both innate and adaptive immune responses. The aim of this review is to present literature about nCD64 as a diagnostic and prognostic marker in patients with sepsis/septic shock.BackgroundThe authors searched articles over 13 years, i.e., from 2006 to 2019. They included articles written in English only and further reviewed the reference list of selected articles to obtain potentially relevant articles. Reviews, letters, commentaries, correspondences, case reports, conference abstracts, expert opinions, editorials, and animal experiments were excluded. Articles involving pediatric patients (≤18 years) were also excluded.Review resultsSeveral studies have indicated that nCD64 is a highly sensitive and specific marker for the diagnosis of sepsis. Various combinations of biomarkers have been used with nCD64 for a better diagnostic value. Neutrophil CD64 as a prognostic marker in critically ill patients needs to be explored more. Most of the existing literatures have highlighted its prognostic utility based on single value at enrolment. There are limited literatures on prognostic implications of serial trend and kinetics of nCD64.ConclusionNeutrophil CD64 is a useful diagnostic and prognostic marker of sepsis in critically ill patients. Additional studies are needed on nCD64 in sepsis based on sepsis-3 criteria. Further trials with large sample size are needed to establish prognostic implications of serial nCD64 trend.How to cite this articlePatnaik R, Azim A, Agarwal V. Neutrophil CD64 a Diagnostic and Prognostic Marker of Sepsis in Adult Critically Ill Patients: A Brief Review. Indian J Crit Care Med 2020;24(12):1242–1250.

Platelets as a prognostic marker for sepsis: A cohort study from the MIMIC-III database.

During sepsis, platelets dysfunction contributes to organ dysfunction. Studies on platelets dysfunction in the long-term prognosis of sepsis are lacking. The aim of this study was to assess the role of platelets in the long-term prognosis of sepsis patients.A total of 4576 sepsis patients were extracted from MIMIC III Database. Survival was analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method. Univariate and multivariate cox analyses were performed to identify prognostic factors. Significant prognostic factors were combined to build a nomogram to predict 1 year overall survival (OS). The discriminative ability and predictive accuracy of the nomogram were evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis and calibration curves used for sepsis.The more abnormal the platelet level, the worse prognosis of patients. After final regression analysis, age, blood urea nitrogen, platelets, international normalized ratio, partial thromboplastin time, potassium, hemoglobin, white blood cell count, organ failures were found to be independent predictors of 1 year OS of sepsis patient and were entered into a nomogram. The nomogram showed a robust discrimination, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.752. The calibration curves for the probability of the prognosis of sepsis patients showed optimal agreement between the probability as predicted by the nomogram and the actual probability.Platelet was an independent prognostic predictor of 1 year OS for patients with sepsis. Platelet-related nomogram that can predict the 1 year OS of sepsis patients. It revealed optimal discrimination and calibration, indicating that the nomogram may have clinical utility.

Growth Differentiation Factor 15 Provides Prognostic Information Superior to Established Cardiovascular and Inflammatory Biomarkers in Unselected Patients Hospitalized With COVID-19.

Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) is a strong prognostic marker in sepsis and cardiovascular disease (CVD). The prognostic value of GDF-15 in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is unknown. Consecutive, hospitalized patients with laboratory-confirmed infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and symptoms of COVID-19 were enrolled in the prospective, observational COVID Mechanisms Study. Biobank samples were collected at baseline, day 3 and day 9. The primary end point was admission to the intensive care unit or death during hospitalization, and the prognostic performance of baseline and serial GDF-15 concentrations were compared with that of established infectious disease and cardiovascular biomarkers. Of the 123 patients enrolled, 35 (28%) reached the primary end point; these patients were older, more often had diabetes, and had lower oxygen saturations and higher National Early Warning Scores on baseline. Baseline GDF-15 concentrations were elevated (>95th percentile in age-stratified healthy individuals) in 97 (79%), and higher concentrations were associated with detectable SARS-CoV-2 viremia and hypoxemia (both P<0.001). Patients reaching the primary end point had higher concentrations of GDF-15 (median, 4225 [IQR, 3197-5972] pg/mL versus median, 2187 [IQR, 1344-3620] pg/mL, P<0.001). The area under the receiver operating curve was 0.78 (95% CI, 0.70-0.86). The association between GDF-15 and the primary end point persisted after adjusting for age, sex, race, body mass index, estimated glomerular filtration rate, previous myocardial infarction, heart failure, and atrial fibrillation (P<0.001) and was superior and incremental to interleukin-6, C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, ferritin, D-dimer, cardiac troponin T, and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide. Increase in GDF-15 from baseline to day 3 was also greater in patients reaching the primary end point (median, 1208 [IQR, 0-4305] pg/mL versus median, -86 [IQR, -322 to 491] pg/mL, P<0.001). GDF-15 is elevated in the majority of patients hospitalized with COVID-19, and higher concentrations are associated with SARS-CoV-2 viremia, hypoxemia, and worse outcome. The prognostic value of GDF-15 was additional and superior to established cardiovascular and inflammatory biomarkers. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT04314232.

The index of oxygenation to respiratory rate as a prognostic factor for mortality in Sepsis.

An index combining respiratory rate and oxygenation (ROX) has been introduced, and the ROX index is defined as the ratio of oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry/fraction of inspired oxygen to respiratory rate. In sepsis, hypoxemia and tachypnea are commonly observed. We performed this study to investigate the association between the ROX index and 28-day mortality in patients with sepsis or septic shock. This retrospective study included 2862 patients. The patients were divided into three groups according to the ROX index: Group I (ROX index >20), Group II (ROX index >10 and≤20), and Group III (ROX index ≤10). The median ROX index was significantly lower in the nonsurvivors than in the survivors (12.8 and 18.2, respectively) (p<0.001). The 28-day mortality rates in Groups I, II and III were 14.5%, 21.3% and 34.4%, respectively (p<0.001). In the multivariable Cox regression analysis, Group III had an approximately 40% higher risk of death than Group I during the 28-day period (hazard ratio=1.41, 95% confidence interval 1.13-1.76). The area under the curve of the ROX index was significantly higher than that of the quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score (p<0.001). The ROX index was lower in nonsurvivors than in survivors, and a ROX index less than or equal to 10 was an independent prognostic factor for 28-day mortality in patients with sepsis or septic shock. Therefore, the ROX index could be used as a prognostic marker in sepsis.

The Diagnostic and Prognostic Role of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C in Sepsis and Septic Shock.

IntroductionVariations in the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) could be used as a biomarker in critically ill patients with sepsis and septic shock. Inflammation potently upregulates VEGF-C expression via macrophages with an unpredictable response. This study aimed to assess one of the newer biomarkers (VEGF-C) in patients with sepsis or septic shock and its clinical value as a diagnostic and prognostic tool.Material and methodsThe study involved 142 persons divided into three groups. Group A consisted of fifty-eight patients with sepsis; Group B consisted of forty-nine patients diagnosed as having septic shock according to the Sepsis -3 criteria. A control group of thirty-five healthy volunteers comprised Group C. Severity scores, prognostic score and organ dysfunction score, were recorded at the time of enrolment in the study. The analysis included specificity and sensitivity of plasma VEGF-C for diagnosis of septic shock. Circulating plasma VEGF-C levels were correlated with the APACHE II, MODS and severity scores and mortality.ResultsThe mean (SD) plasma VEGF-C levels in septic shock patients (1374(789) pg./m), on vasopressors at the time of admission to the ICU, were significantly higher 1374(789)pg./mL, compared the mean (SD) plasma VEGF-C levels in sepsis patients (934(468) pg./mL); (p = 0.0005, Student’s t-test.) Plasma VEGF-C levels in groups A and B were shown to be significantly correlated with the APACHE II (r = 0.21, p = 0.02; r = 0.45, p = 0.0009) and MODS score (r = 0.29, p = 0.03; r = 0.4, p = 0.003). There was no association between plasma VEGF-C levels and mortality [p = 0.1]. The cut-off value for septic shock was 1010 pg./ml.ConclusionsVEGF-C may be used as a prognostic marker in sepsis and septic shock due to its correlation with APACHE II values and as an early marker to determine the likelihood of developing MODS. It could be used as an early biomarker for diagnosing patients with septic shock.

Plasma and Cellular Forms of Fibronectin as Prognostic Markers in Sepsis.

Background There is a pressing need for specific prognostic markers that could be used to monitor the severity of sepsis. The aims of our study were to investigate changes in the expression of different molecular forms of fibronectin in sepsis and to assess their relationship to the clinical severity and mortality of patients. Material and Methods. Forms of fibronectin: plasma (pFN), cellular (EDA-FN), FN-fibrin complexes, and fibronectin fragments were analyzed in 71 sepsis patients (survivors and nonsurvivors) and in the control by ELISA and immunoblotting. Results The baseline pFN concentration of patients with sepsis was significantly lower than in the control (133.0 mg/L vs. 231.2 mg/L) (P < 0.001), and in nonsurvivors, it was lower than in survivors (106.0 mg/L vs. 152.8 mg/L) (P = 0.004). The baseline EDA-FN was significantly elevated in both sepsis groups (survivors: 6.7 mg/L; nonsurvivors: 9.4 mg/L) compared to the control (1.4 mg/L) (P < 0.001). It should be noted that among patients with more severe sepsis, the EDA-FN level was higher in nonsurvivors than in survivors. Furthermore, molecular FN-fibrin complexes as well as FN fragments occurred much more frequently in nonsurvivors than in survivors. Conclusion The study showed that in sepsis, changes in plasmatic and cellular form of fibronectin were associated with the severity of sepsis and may be useful predictors of outcome.

The Role of Brain Natriuretic Peptide as a Prognostic Marker for Sepsis.

Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a neurohormone released in response to volume expansion and increased pressure. It is commonly used to assist in the diagnosis and management of heart failure. BNP can also play an important role as a biomarker in septic shock; however, elevations of BNP in conditions other than sepsis or cardiac dysfunction limits its use as the sole prognostic marker in patients hospitalized with sepsis. Further relationships regarding laboratory value and correlation with severity of illness need to be established with larger prospective studies to develop consensus regarding a cut-off point for optimum sensitivity and specificity in predicting in-hospital mortality related to sepsis.

Study of serum cholesterol levels as a prognostic marker in patients with sepsis

Introduction: Sepsis affects persons of all ages and is one of the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU). Several studies suggests that serum cholesterol may be a useful prognostic marker of sepsis. Material and methods: This was a prospective study conducted in the Department of Medicine, Muzaffarnagar Medical College, Muzaffarnagar, U.P. with 200 ICU patients diagnosed with sepsis by fulfilling all inclusion and exclusion criteria after informed consent and ethical clearance. Serum cholesterol levels were measured on the day 1 and the day 5 of presentation. Result: In the present study, out of 200 subjects, 137 patients had a cholesterol level below 200mg/dl. During the study, 126 patients survived whereas 74 patients expired during the course of treatment. The mean serum cholesterol levels were lower in non-survivor group as compared to survivor group. Conclusion: We can conclude from the results of the present study that monitoring the total cholesterol levels can be used as a prognostic tool in patients with sepsis for predicting the disease outcome.

Utility of sTREM-1 and Presepsin (sCD14-ST) as Diagnostic and Prognostic Markers of Sepsis.

Sepsis is a condition prevalent among hospitalized patients which carries a high risk of morbidity and mortality. Rapid recognition of sepsis as the cause of deterioration is desirable, and then effective treatment can be initiated rapidly. Traditionally, diagnosis was based on the presence of two or more positive SIRS criteria due to infection. However, recently published sepsis-3 criteria put more emphasis on organ dysfunction caused by infection in the definition of sepsis. Regardless of this, no gold standard for diagnosis exists, and clinicians still rely on a number of traditional and novel biomarkers to discriminate between patients with and without infection, as the cause of deterioration. The present study aims to observe the changes of soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (sTREM-1) and presepsin (sCD14-ST) 1evels in plasma of sepsis patients and explore the diagnosis and prognosis of sepsis. Sixty patients with sepsis admitted to the Department of Critical Care medicine in Hainan General Hospital from October 2013 to March 2019 were selected as the experimental group. Also chosen in the same period were 60 cases of hospitalized non-sepsis patients as a control group. Plasma levels of sTREM-1 and presepsin were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in the 60 patients with sepsis and the 60 non-sepsis patients. Changes of sTREM-1 and presepsin plasma 1evels were observed in the survival subgroup and non-survival subgroup of the patients with sepsis on days 1, 4, 7, and the day of discharge or death. Plasma levels of sTREM-1 and presepsin in the patients with sepsis were higher than those in the control group on the day of admission (p < 0.01). The levels of sTREM-1 and presepsin in the septic shock group were significantly higher than those in the sepsis group (p < 0.01). Plasma levels of sTREM-1 and presepsin showed a decreasing trend in the survival subgroup of the patients with sepsis, while maintaining high 1evels or increased in the subgroup of non-survivors. At different time points, the plasma levels of sTREM-1 and presepsin of the subgroup of non-survivors were all significantly higher than the subgroup of survivors. There was a significant positive correlation between plasma 1evels of sTREM-1 and presepsin (r = 0.596, p < 0.01). According to the plasma sTREM-1, presepsin, CRP, and PCT levels on the first day of enrollment in patients with sepsis, ROC curve analysis was performed and AUC was calculated. The results showed that the AUC values of sTREM-1 and presepsin were relatively high, which was 0.925 and 0.910, respectively. The AUC of PCT and CRP were slightly lower, which was 0.861 and 0.816, respectively (p < 0.01). ROC curve was used to study the value of sTREM-1 and presepsin in the diagnosis of sepsis, which suggested that sTREM-1 and presepsin should be significantly superior to CRP and PCT levels. The sTREM-1 combined with presepsin had the highest AUC. sTREM-1 has been shown to have an optimal threshold of 125.00 pg/mL for the diagnosis of sepsis, the specificity was 86.0% and the sensitivity was 87.0%. Presepsin has been shown to have an optimal threshold of 1,025.00 pg/mL for the diagnosis of sepsis, the specificity was 83.0% and the sensitivity was 85.0%. The sTREM-1 and presepsin plasma levels have great reference value for the diagnosis of sepsis, and the sTREM-1 and presepsin plasma levels are relative to the severity of sepsis. It is helpful to evaluate treatment effect and prognosis of sepsis by dynamically monitoring the plasma 1evels of sTREM-1 and presepsin.

Serum Procalcitonin as a Diagnostic Marker for Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome in Intensive Care Unit Patients

Introduction: Early assessment of Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS) through various biomarkers like Procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive Protein (CRP), Interleukin-1 (IL-1) etc., is crucial to manage the outcome of patients. Levels of PCT concerning its likelihood to distinguish patients with SIRS and non-SIRS and the possibility to predict mortality in patients with sepsis has been variable. Aim: To investigate the role of PCT in early diagnosis of sepsis in patients admitted to Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Materials and Methods: In this prospective observational study, 136 patients hospitalised in ICU at Vydehi Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Bangalore, Karnataka, India, between July 2019 to June 2020 were evaluated and PCT was analysed using Finecare™ PCT rapid test. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and multiple logistic regression was carried out to detect the association of predictive PCT value with its outcomes. Results: PCT showed the best predictive value in the diagnosis of SIRS at 1.68 ng/mL (Area Under Curve (AUC)-0.87; p&lt;0.05) having Positive Predictive Value (PPV) and Negative Predictive Value (NPV) of 90.43% and 73.81%, respectively. Multiple logistic regression model adjusted for age, weight, and duration of stay to predict the outcome of SIRS, positive blood culture and fatality case rate derived a significant association of PCT with Odds Ratio (OR) being 1.23 (1.11-2.31), 1.06 (1.01-1.98) and 1.76 (1.08-2.14), respectively. Conclusion: Early identification and treatment for sepsis significantly affects mortality. It appears that consecutive measurements of biomarkers could be valuable, but further prospective studies are important to characterise the role of PCT as a prognostic marker in sepsis and severe sepsis.

Usefulness of presepsin as diagnostic and prognostic marker of sepsis in daily clinical practice.

Sepsis represents a major cause of morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment have a crucial influence on survival. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic role of presepsin (sCD14) in patients with sepsis. Fifty-four consecutive adult patients with sepsis and 26 patients with aseptic meningitis as a control group were included in this prospective observational study. In all patients included in the study, levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), presepsin, lactate, and a count of leukocytes and neutrophils were determined on admission. In those with suspected bacterial infection, two separate blood cultures were obtained and procalcitonin (PCT) concentration was detected. Plasma presepsin and PCT concentrations in septic group patients were followed on days 2, 3 and 7 after enrollment. The median presepsin serum concentration in patients with sepsis was 1614 pg/mL and in the control group it was 203 pg/mL (p < 0.001). Presepsin levels in patients with septic shock were higher than in sepsis patients (p < 0.014). The mean presepsin concentrations were higher in deceased than in surviving patients (p = 0.009). The trend of changes in presepsin concentrations in deceased patients was significantly different than in the surviving patients (p = 0.018). There were no statistically significant differences in the concentration of presepsin or other biomarkers in patients with Gram negative or Gram positive bacteria. Presepsin may be used as a diagnostic marker of systemic bacterial infection and can predict the severity and outcome of sepsis.

Cardiovascular Insufficiency, Abdominal Sepsis, and Patients' Age Are Associated with Decreased Paraoxonase-1 (PON1) Activity in Critically Ill Patients with Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome (MODS).

Oxidative stress and uncontrolled inflammation are hallmarks of sepsis, leading to organ failure and death. As demonstrated in animal studies, oxidative stress can be alleviated by antioxidant therapies. Paraoxonase-1 (PON1) is a serum-based antioxidant, anti-inflammatory agent, detoxifier, and quorum-sensing factor found to be a prognostic marker in sepsis. However, its associations with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), a complication of sepsis and the leading cause of death in the surgical intensive care units (ICU), as well as with specific organ dysfunction, infection site, and invading pathogen remain unknown. Therefore, we measured arylesterase activity of PON1 in 87 individuals (35 with MODS) and related it to the clinical type, organ failure, infection site, pathogens, and hematological and biochemical indices of inflammation at admission to ICU and during a five-day follow-up. Suitability of PON1 and its indices derived from a follow-up as biomarkers in MODS was evaluated as well. MODS was associated with decreased PON1, more so in patients with septic shock, displaying an excellent accuracy as a marker of MODS (91%) and a fair one as a marker in differentiating septic shock from severe sepsis (76%). Decreased admission PON1 accompanied cardiovascular insufficiency (CVI), and, as its marker, PON1 displayed a good accuracy (82%). It was also associated with the abdomen as a site of infection but not with an invading pathogen. In multivariate analysis, 50% of variability in PON1 activity in patients with MODS was explained by the patients' age, CVI, and abdomen as a site of infection. Patients with septic shock, CVI, and abdominal MODS had distinctly different dynamics of PON1 during a follow-up. Mean PON1 activity during the follow-up reflected the associations observed for admission PON1 but was also significantly associated with metabolic dysfunction. Our results show PON1 potential as a biomarker in MODS, particularly as an indicator of CVI.