ObjectiveTo explore the clinical value of the soluble urokinase type plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) level in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) for evaluateting the disease severity and prognosis of severe community-acquired pneumonia (SCAP).
MethodsEighty-four patients with SCAP were recruited as a SCAP group from the respiratory department, ICU and RICU between April 2014 and April 2016. According to their organ dysfunction, the SCAP patients were subdivided into a MODS group and a non-MODS group. Depending on the treatment response on the 7th day of treatment, they were subdivided into an effective group and an ineffective group. According to the survival condition within 28 days, they were subdivided into a survival group and a death group. Meanwhile, 50 cases with non-severe common community acquired pneumonia were recruited as a control group. On the admission day, all cases were evaluated by PSI score and APACHE Ⅱscore. The serum suPAR level were detected by ELISA on the 1st day in hospital. The suPAR and procalcitonin (PCT) levels in the patient's BALF and serum were detected on the 1st, 3rd, 7th day, discharge or death day. The symptoms and signs, biochemical and pulmonary imaging changes were also observed.
ResultsThere were no differences in the sex, age, body weight, duration of pneumonia, or complicated diseases such as hypertension, coronary heart disease and cerebral vascular diseases between the SCAP group and the control group (all P > 0.05). The suPAR levels in serum and BALF of the SCAP group were higher than those of the control group with significant differences (all P < 0.05). The suPAR level in BALF was obviously higher than that in serum in the SCAP group with significant difference (P < 0.05), and slightly higher than that in serum in the control group with no significant difference (P > 0.05). The level of suPAR in BALF of the MODS group was significantly higher than that in the non-MODS group with significant difference (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference in the PCT level between the two groups (P > 0.05). The suPAR level in the ineffective treatment group was significantly higher than that in the effective treatment group on the 7th day in hospital with significant difference (P < 0.05). The suPAR levels in BALF of the death group were higher than those in the survival group at each time point after admittion with significant difference (all P < 0.05), and the PCT levels had no significant difference between the two groups within 1 week of each time point (all P > 0.05). The suPAR level in BALF of the SCAP group was positively correlated with APACHEⅡ score and PSI score (r=0.578, P=0.0085; r=0.565, P=0.0071), and plasma PCT level was weakly correlated with the APACHEⅡ score and PSI score (r1=-0.0137, r2=-0.0152).
ConclusionThe SuPAR level in BALF of patients with SCAP is closely related to the severity and prognosis, and can be used as an index to assess the severity and prognosis.
ObjectiveTo investigate the diagnostic value of products triggered by endotoxin including cytokines and procalcitonin for differentiating bacterial pneumonia from pulmonary tuberculosis.
MethodsFifty patients diagnosed to have hospital-acquired pneumonia and another 50 patients diagnosed with tuberculosis admitted into West China Hospital between January and August 2015 were recruited in this study. The frequencies of CD4+ interferon (IFN)-γ+, CD4+ tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α+, CD4+ interleukin (IL)-2+, CD4+ IL-10+ as well as CD8+IFN-γ+, CD8+TNF-α+, CD8+IL-2+, CD8+IL-10+ populations in peripheral blood were detected by flow cytometry after endotoxin stimulation. Meanwhile, the levels of procalcitonin, IL-6 and C reactive protein were measured by immunofluorescence staining.
ResultsThe frequencies of CD4+ IFN-γ+, CD4+ TNF-α+, CD4+ IL-2+, CD4+ IL-10+ as well as CD8+ IFN-γ+, CD8+ TNF-α+, CD8+ IL-2+, CD8+ IL-10+ populations in the pneumonia group increased significantly compared with those in the tuberculosis group (P < 0.05). The levels of procalcitonin, IL-6 and C-reactive protein in the pneumonia group increased statistically compared with the counterparts in the tuberculosis group (P < 0.05). The positive rates of procalcitonin, IL-6 and C-reactive protein in the pneumonia group were significantly higher than those in the tuberculosis group (P < 0.05).
ConclusionMeasurement of products triggered by endotoxin is beneficial for differential diagnosis of pneumonia from tuberculosis.
Objective?To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of procalcitonin (PCT) for ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). Methods?We searched MEDLINE, EMbase, The Cochrane Library, CBM, BIOSIS to identify all diagnostic tests which evaluated the diagnostic value of PCT in patients with VAP. QUADAS items were used to evaluate the quality of the included studies. Pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (+LR), negative likelihood ratio (-LR), summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curve, and the heterogeneity of the included studies were calculated by using the Meta-disk software. Results?Five studies which were identified from 103 references met the inclusion criteria. The summary sensitivity, specificity, +LR, and –LR values were 0.70 (95%CI 0.62 to 0.77), 0.76 (95%CI 0.69 to 0.82), 5.651 (95%CI 1.237 to 25.810), and 0.349 (95%CI 0.155 to 0.784), respectively. Overall area under the curve (AUC) of SROC curve was 0.884 (DOR=19.416, 95%CI 2.473 to 152.47), demonstrating significant heterogeneity (I2gt;50%). Conclusion?The use of PCT for VAP diagnosis has only a moderate sensitivity and specificity. Although the overall accuracy of VAP diagnosis is relatively high, there is significant heterogeneity between the studies, so more high-quality studies are needed. Besides, using PCT alone to diagnose VAP is not sufficient, and a combination with other clinical evaluations is necessary.
Objective To investigate the expression and clinical significance of soluble triggering receptor expression on myeloid cells-1（sTREM-1） in sepsis patients.Methods Serum concentrations of sTREM-1，procalcitonin（PCT），tumor necrosis factor alpha（TNF-α） and interleukin-10（IL-10） were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay，while high sensitivity C-reactive protein （hsCRP） level was detected by immunoturbidimetry in 68 patients with sepsis，40 patients with no-infective SIRS，and 20 normal individuals. The diagnostic and prognostic value of sTREM-1 and its comparison with PCT and hsCRP were analyzed. The sequential organ failure assessment （SOFA） score system was used to evaluate the severity of sepsis. The relationship between sTREM-1, PCT , hsCRP , SOFA score，TNF-α ,and IL-10 of the sepsis patients was analyzed，respectively. Results The differences in the serum concentrations of sTREM-1，PCT，hsCRP，IL-10 and IL-10/TNF-α ratio had statistical significance among three groups（Plt;0.05）. The differences in the serum concentration of TNF-α had no statistical significance among three groups （Pgt;0.05）. However，the serum levels of sTREM-1，PCT and hsCRP in the sepsis group were significantly higher than those in the SIRS group （Plt;0.05）. The receiver operating characteristic curve （ROC） analysis showed the area under the curve （AUC） for sTREM-1，PCT and hsCRP were 0.772 （95%CI 0.674-0.871），0.718 （95%CI 0.601-0.835） and 0.664 （95%CI 0.532-0.797），respectively. The serum levels of sTREM-1 and PCT in the non-survivors were significantly higher than the survivors in the sepsis group （Plt;0.01），but the differences in the serum concentration of hsCRP had no statistical significance between the non-survivors and the survivors in the sepsis group （Pgt;0.05）. There were significantly positive correlations between sTREM-1 and SOFA score，IL-10 or IL-10/TNF-α ratio（r value of 0.453，0.301，0.417，Plt;0.05），but no correlation between sTREM-1 and TNF-α（Pgt;0.05）. There was significantly positive correlation between PCT and SOFA score （r=0.436，Plt;0.05），while no relationship between hsCRP and SOFA score（Pgt;0.05）. Conclusions The serum level of sTREM-1 not only be valuable in the diagnosis of sepsis，but also may be used as a prognostic marker in sepsis，as it can reflect the severity of sepsis in certain degree. Furthermore，sTREM-1 or PCT may be superior to hsCRP in diagnosis，prognostic judgment and severity assessment of sepsis.
ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical value of serum proadrenomedullin (pro-ADM) for diagnosis of ventilator-associated pneumonia(VAP).
MethodsA prospective study was carried out in eighty-nine patients with clinically suspected diagnosis of VAP who underwent invasive mechanical ventilation between June 2014 and July 2015.The patients were divided into a VAP group (n=52) and a non-VAP group (n=37) according to clinical and microbiological culture results.The levels of serum pro-ADM were measured by sandwich ELISA on 1st, 3rd and 5th day of VAP suspicion.The diagnostic value of pro-ADM for VAP was assessed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.
ResultsOn 1st day, 3rd day and 5th day, the pro-ADM levels [3.10(2.21, 4.61) nmol/L, 3.01(2.04, 4.75)nmol/L and 1.85(1.12, 3.54)nmol/L, respectively] in the VAP group were significantly higher than those in the non-VAP group [1.53(1.07, 2.24)nmol/L, 1.52(1.05, 2.17) nmol/L and 1.26(1.02, 2.17) nmol/L, respectively] (all P < 0.05).For diagnosis of VAP, the area under the ROC curve (AUC) for pro-ADM on 1st, 3rd and 5th were 0.896 (95%CI 0.799-0.940), 0.863(95%CI 0.791-0.935) and 0.651 (95%CI 0.538-0.765), respectively.When using 2.53 nmol/L as the best cutoff on 1st day, pro-ADM had 84.6% sensitivity and 86.5% specificity.When using 2.40 nmol/L as the best cutoff on 3rd day, pro-ADM had 82.7% sensitivity and 83.8% specificity.
ConclusionSerum level of pro-ADM in the diagnosis of VAP has good sensitivity and specificity, which may be used as a marker to diagnose VAP early.
ObjectiveTo explore the value of procalcitonin-to-albumin (PAR) in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).MethodsA retrospective study was carried on patients diagnosed with ARDS from December 2016 to March 2018. The receiver-operating characteristics (ROC) curve was used to identify the cutoff value of PAR. The association of PAR and 28-day mortality was evaluated using univariate and multivariable Cox regression.ResultsIn the final analysis, there were a total of 255 patients included. Of whom 164 (64.3%) was male, 91 (35.7%) was female and the mean age was 52.1±14.5 years old. The 28-day mortality of all the patients was 32.9% (n=84). ROC curve revealed that the cutoff value of PAR was 0.039 (specificity: 0.714, sensitivity: 0.702) and area under the curve was 0.793 (95%CI: 0.735 - 0.850, P<0.001). The following variables were considered for multivariable adjustment: age, body mass index, pneumonia, aspiration, sepsis, surgery, PaO2/FiO2, red blood cell counts and PAR (P<0.01 in univariate analysis). After multivariable analysis, only age (HR: 1.033, 95%CI: 1.009 - 1.059, P=0.008), PaO2/FiO2 (HR: 0.992, 95%CI: 0.985 - 1.000, P=0.044) and PAR (HR: 4.899, 95%CI: 2.148 - 11.174, P<0.001) remained independently associated with 28-day mortality (P<0.05).ConclusionHigh PAR predicts a poor outcome in ARDS patients, therefore it appears to be a prognostic biomarker of outcomes in patients with ARDS.
Objective To explore the association between procalcitonin (PCT) level and the development of malignant brain edema (MBE) after acute cerebral infarction. Methods The data on patients with stroke admitted to the Department of Neurology of West China Hospital, Sichuan University between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2018 were retrospective collected. Patients were divided into MBE group and non-MBE group based on whether MBE had occurred. The basic information and neuroimaging data of two groups of patients were compared and analyzed. Results A total of 798 patients were included. Among them, there were 93 cases of MBE (11.65%) and 705 cases of non-MBE (88.35%). The median time of MBE occurrence (lower quartile, upper quartile) was 29 (24, 54) hours after onset. The difference in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, large-scale middle cerebral artery infarction, dysarthria, low fever, consciousness status, chronic heart failure, TOAST typing, mechanical ventilation, gastric tube placement, PCT on the first and third day of admission between the two groups were statistically significant (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the other indicators between the two groups (P>0.05). The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that both day 1 PCT and large-scale middle cerebral artery infarction were associated with MBE. Conclusions Elevated PCT within 24 hours from onset is independently associated with the development of MBE after acute cerebral infarction. Patients with elevated PCT after cerebral infarction may require careful clinical management.
ObjectiveTo examine and compare the value of procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin (IL)-6 in diagnosing fetal sepsis in premature neonates.
MethodsPreterm neonates with premature rupture of membrane between January 2010 and September 2012 were screened, and the serum levels of PCT, CRP and IL-6 were detected in the first day of life. All preterm neonates were divided into two groups according to the development of sepsis (45 cases with sepsis and 39 cases without sepsis).
ResultsThe levels of PCT, CRP and IL-6 in premature neonates with sepsis were all significantly higher than those without sepsis. The cut-off value of PCT in diagnosis of sepsis was 2.14 μg/L, with a sensitivity and specificity of 76% and 85% respectively; the cut-off value of CRP in diagnosis of sepsis was 7.90 mg/L, with a sensitivity and specificity of 67% and 61% respectively. For IL-6, the cut-off value in diagnosis of sepsis was 13.80 ng/L, and its sensitivity and specificity were high to 90% and 94%, respectively.
ConclusionIL-6 is the most reliable biochemical marker for the detection of early-onset sepsis in preterm neonates with premature rupture of membrane.
ObjectiveTo investigate the prognostic value of serum procalcitonin (PCT) level and its change for patients with severe trauma and sepsis.
MethodsEighty-two patients with severe trauma and sepsis treated between June 2013 and June 2014 were chosen to be our study subjects. According to the clinical outcome at day 28, they were divided into survival group (n=54) and death group (n=28). Serum procalcitonin levels at hour 0, 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 after admitted to the emergency intensive care unit were detected in all the patients. Then we calculated the rate of procalcitonin change in each time points, injury severity score (ISS) score, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE)Ⅱ score and white blood cells (WBC) count.
ResultsProcalciton level at hour 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 of the survival group was significantly lower than the death group (P<0.05); the rate of procalcitonin change at hour 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 was significantly lower than the death group (P<0.05), and the APACHE Ⅱ score was significantly lower than the death group (P<0.01). There was no significant difference in the ISS score and WBC count between the two groups (P>0.05).
ConclusionEarly procalcitonin level and its dynamic change are good indicators in judging the prognosis of patients with severe trauma and sepsis, especially the early dynamic change in the rate of procalcitonin.
Objective
To investigate the value of procalcitonin (PCT) at admission for severity stratificaton and prognosis prediction of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), and assess the ability of the combination of PCT and the validated pneumonia risk scores (PSI and CURB-65) for predicting 30-day mortality.
Methods
A retrospective study was performed in 150 hospitalized CAP patients admitted in the Department of Respiratory Medicine of General Hospital of Tianjin Medical University between March 2015 and March 2016. The primary end point for this study was mortality within 30 days. Sensitivity (SEN), specificity (SPE), positive and negative predictive value (PPV, NPV) of PCT for assessing mortality was calculated and compared to validated pneumonia risk scores.
Results
In the 150 CAP patients enrolled, there were 77 males and 73 females with an average age of 58.4±16.3 years. Twelve (8%) patients died within 30 days. The non-survivors had significantly higher median PCT level (4.25 ng/mlvs. 0.24 ng/ml) and C-reactive protein (CRP) level (14.60 mg/dlvs. 5.10 mg/dl) compared with the survivors. The median PCT level was significantly higher in the patients with more severe disease assessed by two risk scoring systems. Combination of PCT with risk scores can improve prognostic value for predicting 30-day mortality of CAP.
Conclusions
The level of PCT at admission is more useful than the traditional biomarkers for the severity stratification and prognosis prediction of CAP. It can well determine patients at low risk of mortality from CAP. There is no advantage of PCT compared to PSI or CURB-65, so we recommend combination of PCT to risk sores to predict 30-day mortality of CAP.
