Inflammatory markers in patients with severe burn injury: What is the best indicator of sepsis?

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the diagnostic value of serum PCT, CRP, leukocyte count and temperature as markers of sepsis in critically ill ICU burn patients. DESIGN AND SETTING: Prospective, observational study in a four bed Burn Intensive Care Unit. PATIENTS: Forty-three patients admitted in a Burn ICU were included in our study. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Serum PCT, CRP concentrations, WCC (white cell count), neutrophils and temperature were measured within the first 24h after-burn and daily thereafter. Severity of organ failure was estimated by sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score. Every day we classified all patients in one of the following three categories: non-systemic inflammatory condition (non-SIRS), SIRS non-infected and SIRS 2 infected or sepsis. Patients with infected SIRS differ significantly from non-infected SIRS in PCT (11.8+/-15.8 versus 0.63+/-0.0.43, respectively, p < 0.001). On the other hand, WCC, temperature and neutrophils did not differ significantly between patients with SIRS non-infected and infected SIRS. CRP was elevated in all three groups but didn't differ significantly between SIRS non-infected and septic patients. Area under receiver operating curves was 0.975 and showed reasonable discriminative power (p = 0.002, 95% CI, 0.91-1.035) in predicting of sepsis only for PCT. CONCLUSIONS: Serum procalcitonin levels can be used as an early indicator of septic complication in patients with severe burn injury.     

Serum procalcitonin and C-reactive protein as markers of sepsis and outcome in patients with neurotrauma and subarachnoid haemorrhage

This prospective study evaluated serum procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) as markers for systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS)/sepsis and mortality in patients with traumatic brain injury and subarachnoid haemorrhage. Sixty-two patients were followed for 7 days. Serum PCT and CRP were measured on days 0, 1, 4, 5, 6 and 7. Seventy-seven per cent of patients with traumatic brain injury and 83% with subarachnoid haemorrhage developed SIRS or sepsis (P=0.75). Baseline PCT and CRP were elevated in 35% and 55% of patients respectively (P=0.03). There was a statistically non-significant step-wise increase in serum PCT levels from no SIRS (0.4+/-0.6 ng/ml) to SIRS (3.05+/-9.3 ng/ml) to sepsis (5.5+/-12.5 ng/ml). A similar trend was noted in baseline PCT in patients with mild (0.06+/-0.9 ng/ml), moderate (0.8+/-0.7 ng/ml) and severe head injury (1.2+/-1.9 ng/ml). Such a gradation was not observed with serum CRP There was a non-significant trend towards baseline PCT being a better marker of hospital mortality compared with baseline CRP (ROC-AUC 0.56 vs 0.31 respectively). This is the first prospective study to document the high incidence of SIRS in neurosurgical patients. In our study, serum PCT appeared to correlate with severity of traumatic brain injury and mortality. However, it could not reliably distinguish between SIRS and sepsis in this cohort. This is in part because baseline PCT elevation seemed to correlate with severity of injury. Only a small proportion of patients developed sepsis, thus necessitating a larger sample size to demonstrate the diagnostic usefulness of serum PCT as a marker of sepsis. Further clinical trials with larger sample sizes are required to confirm any potential role of PCT as a sepsis and outcome indicator in patients with head injuries or subarachnoid haemorrhage.     

Procalcitonin, C-reactive protein, white blood cells and SOFA score in ICU: diagnosis and monitoring of sepsis

AIM: To determine in critically ill patients the value of procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP), sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score and white blood cell count in diagnosis and monitoring of sepsis. METHODS: Patients admitted to a medicosurgical intensive care unit in a prospective, observational study, were observed consecutively. According to ACCP/SCCM Consensus Conference definition were defined 4 groups: SEPSIS/SS (sepsis, severe sepsis, septic shock), SIRS, No-SIRS and TRAUMA. RESULTS: Two hundred and fifty five clinical events on a total of 1 826 observation days were observed: 111 SEPSIS/SS, 49 TRAUMA, 45 SIRS and 50 No-SIRS. ROC values, in the diagnosis of sepsis, were 0.88 for PCT, 0.74 for CRP, 0.8 for Sepsis score, 0.74 for SOFA, 0.62 for neu-throphils granulocytes (p<0.05). The best cut-off values in the diagnosis of sepsis were 0.47 ng/mL for PCT and 128 mg/L for CRP. PCT and SOFA were higher in septic shock than in severe sepsis and sepsis (p<0.05 in all cases). The maximum CRP level in SEPSIS/SS was reached only after 24-48 h of observation. Admission PCT value of TRAUMA patients whom evolving in septic complication was higher than patients with a favourable course: 3.4 ng/mL (range 2.63-12.71) vs 1.2 ng/mL (range 0.5-5.2) (p<0.05). TRAUMA patients with septic complications present an early and quick significant increase of PCT (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: PCT and CRP may be useful together with bacteriological data in sepsis diagnosis; PCT and SOFA closer correlate with the infection severity; PCT is the better parameter to estimate severity, prognosis or further course of the disease.     

Procalcitonin (PCT) in cardiac surgery: diagnostic value in systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), sepsis and after heart transplantation (HTX)

PURPOSE: Since it is of great importance to distinguish between a systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and an infection caused by microbes especially after heart transplantation (HTX), we examined patients following heart surgery by determining procalcitonin (PCT), because PCT is said to be secreted only in patients with microbial infections. METHODS: Sixty patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and 14 patients after heart transplantation were included in this prospective study. In the CABG group we had 30 patients without any postoperative complications (group A). Furthermore we took samples of 30 patients who suffered postoperatively from a sepsis (group B, n=15) or a systemic inflammatory response syndrome (C, n=15). In addition we measured the PCT-levels in 65 blood samples of 14 patients after heart transplantation (Group I: rejection > IIa, II: viral infection (CMV), III: bacterial/fungal infection, IV: controls). RESULTS: In all patients of group A the pre- and intraoperative PCT-values and the measurement at arrival on intensive care unit (ICU) were less than 0.2 ng/ml. On the second postoperative day the PCT-value was 0.33+/-0.15 ng/ml in the control group. At the same time it was 19.6+/-6.2 ng/ml in sepsis and 0.7+/-0.4 ng/ml in systemic inflammatory response syndrome patients (P<0.05). In transplanted patients we could find the following PCT-values: Gr.I: 0.18+/-0.06 II: 0.30+/-0.09 III: 1.63+/-1.16 IV: 0.21+/-0.09 ng/ml (P<0.05 comparing group III with I, II and IV). CONCLUSIONS: These results show that extracorporeal circulation (ECC) and systemic inflammatory response syndrome do not initiate a PCT-secretion. Septic conditions cause a significant increase of PCT. In addition, PCT is a reliable indicator concerning the essential differentiation of bacterial or fungal--not viral--infection and rejection after heart transplantation.     

Procalcitonin: a marker of bacteraemia in SIRS

A number of European studies have documented the ability of procalcitonin (PCT), a novel inflammatory marker, to discriminate patients with sepsis from those with other causes of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). The aim of this study was to assess procalcitonin's performance in an Australian intensive care unit (ICU) setting to examine whether it could discriminate between these two conditions. One hundred and twenty-three consecutive adult ICU patients fulfilling criteria for SIRS were enlisted in the study. Over a period of five days, daily serum PCT and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were measured. At least two sets of cultures were taken of blood, sputum/broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL) and urine. Other cultures were taken as clinically indicated. Questionnaires to ascertain clinical suspicion of sepsis were prospectively answered by the ICU senior registrars. PCT values were ten times higher in patients with positive blood cultures; CRP values were also significantly higher in the bacteraemic patients. Both PCT and CRP had a good ability to discriminate bacteraemia from non-infectious SIRS, with the area under receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves for PCT being 0.8 and for CRP being 0.82. However neither PCT or CRP was able to discriminate patients with localized sepsis from those without. Utilizing both tests resulted in a more sensitive screen than either one alone, while PCT was a more accurate diagnostic test for bacteraemia than CRP. The PCT value also differed between those who died in hospital and those who survived. Measurement of PCT alone or in combination with CRP can aid discrimination of septicaemia/bacteriemia with associated SIRS from non-infectious SIRS in an Australian ICU setting.     

生物标志物在脓毒症诊断和危险分层中的临床价值探讨

目的评价前心房利钠肽（pro—ANP）、前肾上腺髓质素（pro—ADM）、降钙素原（PCT）、白介素－6（IL－6）和C－反应蛋白（CRP）在脓毒症预测和危险分层中的价值。方法前瞻性的将149例入住重症加强病房的危重病患者按标准分为全身性炎症反应综合征（SIRS）组（72例）、脓毒症组（33例）、严重脓毒症组（27例）、脓毒症性休克组（17例）4组,采用新型夹心免疫荧光测量法检测各组中pro—ANP和pro-ADM浓度,并和急性生理学与慢性健康状况评分系统Ⅱ（APACHEII评分）及PCT、CRP和IL-6等相比较。结果SIRS组、脓毒症、严重脓毒症和脓毒症性休克组,血浆pro—ANP、pro—ADM、PCT浓度逐渐升高,差异有统计学意义（P均〈0．05）,CRP和IL-6浓度差异无统计学意义（P均〉0．05）。在脓毒症组中,与其他标志物相比,死亡患者的pro—ANP、pro—ADM浓度比存活患者明显升高,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。在脓毒症患者的受试者工作曲线分析中,pro—ANP（0．88）、pro—ADM（0．86）和PCT（0．82）、APACHEⅡ评分（0．82）的曲线下面积相同,明显高于CRP（0．54）和IL-6（0．69）。结论生物标志物pro—ANP、pro—ADM、PCT对脓毒症患者的预测和危险分层是一个有用的工具。     

Procalcitonin-a sepsis parameter in severe burn injuries

Procalcitonin (PCT) levels increase in patients with systemic infections; the highest levels have been found in sepsis. This study tested whether plasma procalcitonin level was related to sepsis, CRP, burn size, inhalation injury or mortality in severely burned patients over the entire clinical course.

In 27 patients with 51 (20–91)% TBSA, PCT was measured three times weekly from admission over the entire course of stay in a single ICU. Daily scoring by the “Baltimore Sepsis Scale” was performed. The patients were assigned to three groups depending on the clinical course and outcome: A=no septic complications, B=septic complications–survivors, C=septic complications–non-survivors.

PCT levels were elevated slightly at admission (mean 2.1 ng/ml) except in three patients who suffered electrical burns (mean 15.7 ng/ml). PCT peak levels correlated well with the Scoring values (r=0.84) while CRP did not (r=0.64). Peak PCT levels were significantly higher (p<0.005) in septic patients (B and C) who averaged 49.8±76.9 ng/ml, than in non-septic patients (A) who averaged peak levels of 2.3±3.7 ng/ml. The highest PCT levels were found immediately before death (86.8±97 ng/ml).

Seven patients had an inhalation injury III°. In these patients at 24 h postburn, there was no relationship between PCT levels and inhalation injury but during the later days postburn there were significant differences in PCT levels in patients with versus without inhalation injury. All patients with inhalation injury III° developed septic complications.

There was no positive correlation between the PCT-admission-levels and the TBSA, but there was a positive correlation between the TBSA and the mean peak PCT levels during the later days postburn (r=0.73; p<0.05). The cut-off value of 3 ng/ml we found reliable to indicate severe bacterial or fungal infection. PCT values over 10 ng/ml increasing over the following days were found only in life-threatening situations due to systemic infections. The individual course of PCT in one patient is more important than absolute values. PCT presented in this study as a useful diagnostic parameter in severely burned patients.     

Whole blood leukocyte mitogen activated protein kinases activation differentiates intensive care unit patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome and sepsis

INTRODUCTION: We sought to determine whether leukocytes from intensive care unit (ICU) patients have altered ERK and p38 kinase activation and specifically if septic patients manifest changes of endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide [LPS]) tolerance. In vitro pretreatment of monocytes (Mono) with LPS induces LPS tolerance with impaired cytokine release and inhibition of ERK and p38 activation after LPS rechallenge. HYPOTHESIS: We hypothesized that macrophage dysregulation, similar to that seen with in vitro LPS tolerance, occurs in critically ill patients with severe sepsis. METHODS: Heparinized whole blood from 16 surgical ICU patients and 16 healthy controls was incubated for 15 minutes +/- 10 ng/mL LPS at 37 degrees C. Mono and neutrophil (polymorphonuclear leukocytes [PMN]) diphospho (active) ERK and p38 kinase activation were determined using flow cytometry with monoclonal antibodies. Results are expressed as mean +/- SEM of basal and percentage change (delta %) in positive cells (delta = LPS stimulated - basal). Chi2 test was used for statistics. RESULTS: Basal ERK was seen in Mono from all groups, but delta % positive only increased in healthy subjects and systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) patients. No basal Mono or PMN p38 was seen in healthy controls, but LPS significantly activated p38 in both cell types. Mono from patients with sepsis, but not SIRS, had impaired ERK activation. Both PMN and Mono from patients with SIRS had low basal but high LPS-stimulated p38, whereas p38 activation was impaired in patients with sepsis. CONCLUSION: Alterations in mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPK) activation are seen in ICU patients. Leukocytes of septic patients, but not those with SIRS, showed characteristics of LPS tolerance. Assessment of leukocyte MAPK activation may identify and differentiate patients with sepsis from those with SIRS.     

Effect of cardiopulmonary bypass on serum procalcitonin and C-reactive protein concentrations

We have measured serum procalcitonin (PCT) concentrations after cardiac surgery in 36 patients allocated to one of three groups: group 1, coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) (n = 12); group 2, CABG without CPB (n = 12); and group 3, valvular surgery with CPB (n = 12). Serum PCT and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations were measured before operation, at the end of surgery and daily until postoperative day 8. Serum PCT concentrations increased, irrespective of the type of cardiac surgery, with maximum concentrations on day 1: mean 1.3 (SD 1.8), 1.1 (1.2) and 1.4 (1.2) ng ml-1 in groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively (ns). Serum PCT concentrations remained less than 5 ng ml-1 in all patients. Concentrations returned to normal by day 5 in all groups. To determine the effect of the systemic inflammatory response (SIRS) on serum PCT concentrations, patients were divided post hoc, without considering the type of cardiac surgery, into patients with SIRS (n = 19) and those without SIRS (n = 17). The increase in serum PCT was significantly greater in SIRS (peak PCT 1.79 (1.64) ng ml-1 vs 0.34 (0.32) ng ml-1 in patients without SIRS) (P = 0.005). Samples for PCT and CRP measurements were obtained from 10 other patients with postoperative complications (circulatory failure n = 7; active endocarditis n = 2; septic shock n = 1). In these patients, serum PCT concentrations ranged from 6.2 to 230 ng ml-1. Serum CRP concentrations increased in all patients, with no differences between groups. The postoperative increase in CRP lasted longer than that of PCT. We conclude that SIRS induced by cardiac surgery, with and without CPB, influenced serum PCT concentrations with a moderate and transient postoperative peak on the first day after operation. A postoperative serum PCT concentration of more than 5 ng ml-1 is highly suggestive of a postoperative complication.      

甲状腺激素、降钙素原和C-反应蛋白对脓毒症患者病情及预后评估的价值

目的结合脓毒症患者病情、住院病死率探讨血清甲状腺激素（TH）、血清降钙素原（PCT）和C-反应蛋白（CRP）三者对脓毒症患者预后的评估价值。 方法采用回顾性研究,根据2008年国际脓毒症定义的脓毒症诊断标准,将入选病例分为脓毒症组、严重脓毒症组（包括严重脓毒症及脓毒症休克患者）、非全身炎症反应综合征（SIRS）对照组;脓毒症、严重脓毒症组按照患者的住院病死率,分为存活组及死亡组。测定各组患者入院24 h内的TH、PCT及CRP浓度并进行各组间的统计学分析。 结果严重脓毒症患者血清FT₃、TT₃、TT₄水平显著低于脓毒症及对照组（P均< 0.05）,脓毒症患者血清FT₃、TT₃水平低于对照组（P均< 0.05）;脓毒症及严重脓毒症患者血清PCT、CRP水平显著高于对照组（P均< 0.05）,严重脓毒症患者较脓毒症患者血清PCT水平显著升高（P < 0.05）,但两组CRP水平差异无统计学意义;死亡组FT₃、TT₃、PCT水平显著高于存活组（P均< 0.05）,但CRP差异无统计学意义;各组的TSH含量变化无统计学意义。 结论CRP是鉴别SIRS和非SIRS的有效指标,但并非早期诊断脓毒症的可靠指标。PCT、TH是早期诊断脓毒症并能与非SIRS鉴别的特异性较高的炎症指标;结合PCT和TH水平可以客观判断脓毒症病情的严重性。同时,TH与PCT水平与脓毒症预后显著相关,两者联合应用有望成为早期判断脓毒症预后的快速、可靠且非有创性指标。     

Time course and relationship between plasma selenium concentrations, systemic inflammatory response, sepsis, and multiorgan failure

Background: Selenium plays an important role in defence against acute illness.We investigated, in intensive care unit (ICU) patients, thetime course of plasma selenium concentrations and their relationshipto systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), organ dysfunction/failure,infection, and ICU outcome. Methods: Plasma selenium and laboratory indices of organ dysfunction/failure,tissue inflammation, and infection were measured daily duringthe ICU stay in 60 consecutive ICU patients, 15 in each of foura priori defined subgroups: ICU controls (no SIRS); uncomplicatedSIRS; severe SIRS; and severe sepsis/septic shock. Results: Plasma selenium concentrations were below standard values forhealthy subjects (74 µg litre^–1) in 55 patients(92%). Selenium concentrations decreased during the ICU stayin all groups, except controls, to a minimum value that waslower in patients with organ failure, particularly in thosewith infection. The minimum plasma selenium was inversely correlatedto admission Acute Physiology and Chronic Health EvaluationII and Simplified Acute Physiology System II scores, indicatorsof inflammation, and the maximal degree of organ dysfunction/failureduring the ICU stay. Plasma selenium was positively correlatedwith minimum platelet count, minimum plasma antithrombin activity,and protein C activity. In a receiver operator characteristicanalysis, SAPS II score [area under the curve (AUC) = 0.903]and minimum selenium concentration (AUC = 0.867) were the strongestpredictive factors for ICU mortality. Conclusions: In critically ill surgical patients, plasma selenium concentrationsare generally low with a greater decrease during the ICU stayin patients with organ failure, especially when attributed toinfection. Lower plasma selenium concentrations are associatedwith more tissue damage, the presence of infection or organdysfunction/failure, and increased ICU mortality.     

Procalcitonin and C-reactive protein kinetics in postoperative pediatric cardiac surgical patients

OBJECTIVE: To determine the kinetics of procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration after pediatric cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. DESIGN: Prospective, clinical cohort study. SETTING: A fifteen-bed tertiary-care pediatric intensive care unit. PATIENTS: Fourteen pediatric patients admitted for cardiac surgery. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Serum PCT and CRP were measured before cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB); after CPB; and on the first, second, and third days after surgery by means of immunoluminometry and nephelometry, respectively. Reference values for systemic inflammatory response syndrome are 0.5 to 2.0 ng/mL for PCT and <5 mg/L for CRP. Baseline serum PCT and CRP concentrations were 0.24 +/- 0.13 ng/mL and 4.06 +/- 3.60 mg/L (median 25th percentile-75th percentile), respectively. PCT concentrations increased progressively from the end of CPB (0.62 +/- 0.30 ng/mL), peaked at 24 hours postoperatively (POD1) (0.77 +/- 0.49 ng/mL), and began to decrease at 48 hours or POD2 (0.35 +/- 0.21 ng/mL). CRP increased just after CPB (58.82 +/- 42.23 mg/L) and decreased after 72 hours (7.09 +/- 9.81 mg/L). CONCLUSION: An increment of both PCT and CRP was observed just after CPB. However, PCT values remained within reference values, whereas CRP concentrations increased significantly after CPB until the third day. These preliminary results suggest that PCT was more effective than CRP to monitor patients with SIRS and a favorable outcome.     

早期脓毒症生物分子预警的研究进展

背景 脓毒症是ICU患者的主要死亡原因,提高脓毒症预警的准确度并及时进行治疗是脓毒症早期干预的重点.失控的炎性应答可导致促炎反应航炎反应平衡的破坏、患者早期死亡.目前,尚无有效的生物化学技术能够提供快速可信的方法以鉴别脓毒症.目的 归纳目前有助于早期诊断脓毒症的生物学标志物及基于多重PCR的检测方法.内容 归纳C反应蛋白(C-reactin protein,CRP)、降钙素原(procalcitonin,PCT)、IL-6、脂多糖结合蛋白(lipopolysaccharides-binding protein,LBP)、可溶性髓系细胞触发受体-1(soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1, sTREM-1)、尿激酶纤溶酶原激活物(urokinase-type plasminogen activator,uPAR)、高迁移率族蛋白B1(high mobility group box 1 protein,HMGB1)、肾素血管紧张素系统(rennin angiotensin system,RAS)、基于多重PCR的病原体检测对脓毒症早期预警的作用.趋向 尚无一种单一的生物标志物或生物分子技术可以提供准确的预警以有效地鉴别脓毒症.PCT是目前最常用于脓毒症诊断及危重程度判断的唯一实践性生物分子.未来对脓毒症早期预警的研究可更多注重联合使用多种生物学标志物.     

Prediction about severity and outcome of sepsis by pro-atrial natriuretic peptide and pro-adrenomedullin

Objective： Measurement of biomarkers is a potential approach to early prediction of the risk of mortality in patients with sepsis. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prognostic value of pro-atrial natriuretic peptide （pro-ANP） and pro-adrenomedullin （pro- ADM） levels in a cohort of medical intensive care patients and to compare it with that of other known biomarkers and physiological scores. Methods： Blood samples of 51 consecutive critically ill patients admitted to the intensive care unit and 53 age-matched healthy control people were evaluated in this prospective study. The prognostic value ofpro-ANP and pro-ADM levels was compared with that of acute physiology and chronic health evaluation （APACHE） II scores and various biomarkers such as C-reactive protein, interleukin-6 and procalcitonin. Pro-ANP and pro-ADM were detected by a new sandwich immunoassay. Results： On admission, 25 patients had systemic inflammatory response syndrome （SIRS）, 12 sepsis, 9 severe sepsis and 5 septic shock. At that time, the median levels （ng/ml） of pro-ANP and pro-ADM were 87.22 and 0.34 respectively in patients with SIRS, 1533.30 and 2.23 in those with sepsis, 1098.73 and 4.57 in those with severe sepsis, and 1933.94 and 8.21 in those with septic shock. With the increasing severity of disease, the levels of pro- ANP and pro-ADM were gradually increased. On admission, the circulating levels ofpro-ANP and pro-ADM in patients with sepsis, severe sepsis, or septic shock were significantly higher in non-survivors than in survivors （P〈0.05）. In a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis for the survival of patients with sepsis, the areas under the curve （AUCs） for pro-ANP and pro-ADM were 0.89 and 0.87 respectively, which was similar to the AUCs for procalcitonin and APACHE II scores. Conclusion： Pro-ANP and pro-ADM are valuable biomarkers for prediction of severity of septic patients.     

Procalcitonin rapid test in surgical patients treated in the intensive care unit

Procalcitonin test (PCT) has been proposed to check severity of generalized infections or sepsis. The authors measured the PCT values with PCT-Q quick test (BRAHMS DIAGNOSTICA GmbH, Berlin) at 14 surgical patients treated in their intensive care unit (7 sepsis, 4 peritonitis, 2 localized pancreatic abscess, 1 postoperative fever). At 3 septic patients (2 pancreatitis, 1 intestinal necrosis) they measured the PCT levels repeatedly during treatment. In 2 patients with localized pancreatic abscess and in 1 patient with postoperative fever without evidence of infection the PCT levels were low (< 0.5 ng/ml). At 4 patients with peritonitis following gastric or colon perforation the PCT levels were highly elevated (> 10 ng/ml). At 7 patients with severe sepsis the PCT values were high (> 2 ng/ml), except for 1 patient with intestinal necrosis. At this patient the PCT levels were repeatedly low. In 2 septic patients with pancreatitis elevated PCT levels indicated the need for surgery. In most patients PCT was a good indicator of generalized infections. PCT levels measured repeatedly in sepsis were lower than in patients with peritonitis.     

全身炎症反应综合征与多器官功能障碍综合征的临床研究

作者前瞻性调查了２３０例危重病患者,根据危重病患者全身性炎症反应综合征（ＳＩＲＳ）和多器官功能障碍综合征（ＭＯＤＳ）的症状,分析ＳＩＲＳ到ＭＯＤＳ的渐进发展过程,探讨治疗策略。结果显示：患者转入加强医疗病房（ＩＣＵ）时,ＳＩＲＳ患病率７１．３％,病死率１８．９％。２３０例患者中,６５例发生ＭＯＤＳ（２８．３％）,死亡３３例（５０．８％）。非感染性ＳＩＲＳ、全身性感染及感染性休克患者的ＭＯＤＳ患病率依次为２２．８％,６１．１％和８５．７％,而病死率依次为１１．４％,３０．６％和５０．０％。作者认为,早期诊断ＳＩＲＳ,并积极调控机体炎症反应,可能是改善危重患者预后的关键。     

Evaluation of serum procalcitonin concentration in the ICU following severe burn

The goal of the study was to analyse plasma procalcitonin (PCT) concentrations during infectious events of burns in ICU. Clinical and laboratory data were collected at admission and twice a week in burned patients admitted with a total body surface area (TBSA) >20%. Procalcitonin was determined using both a semi-quantitative detection (PCT-Q) and a quantitative immunoluminometric method (PCT-Lumi). A total of 359 time points in 25 consecutive patients with 40+/-17% (20-86%) TBSA burned, defined as a procalcitonin concentration associated with an inflammatory status according to society critical care medicine definition, were made. The principal site of infection was the respiratory tract (84% of patients required mechanical ventilation). PCT-Lumi values corresponded to the four semi-quantitative ranges of PCT-Q and statistically reflected the simultaneously observed inflammatory status (Kruskall-Wallis test). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for C-reactive protein (CRP) was higher than those for PCT and white blood cell (WBC) count, but this difference was not significant. The optimum PCT cut-off value was 0.534 ng/ml with sensitivity and specificity of 42.4% and 88.8%, respectively. However, PCT does not appear to be superior to C-reactive protein (CRP) and white blood count (WBC) as diagnosis marker of sepsis in burns. PCT is not sufficient to diagnose and to follow infection in burns admitted in ICU.     

Urinary neutrophil gelatinase–associated lipocalin,a biomarker for systemic inflammatory response syndrome in patients with nephrolithiasis

Background

The objective of this study was to determine the diagnostic value of neutrophil gelatinase–associated lipocalin (NGAL), C-reactive protein (CRP), and procalcitonin (PCT) in the prognosis of patients presenting with the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) with nephrolithiasis.

Methods

Urine NGAL protein levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 87 patients presenting with nephrolithiasis who were diagnosed as SIRS. Additionally, 52 patients presenting with nephrolithiasis but without urinary tract infection and 30 healthy controls were also included in the study. Levels of serum CRP and PCT were also taken into consideration.

Results

Median urinary NGAL levels were significantly increased in the SIRS cohorts compared with nephrolithiasis without urinary tract infection patients (4.28 ng/mL versus 2.69 ng/mL, P < 0.001), and NGAL was markedly elevated even in the early stage of SIRS (3.23 ng/mL versus 2.69 ng/mL, P < 0.001). According to the receiver-operating characteristic analysis, NGAL demonstrated a high diagnostic value compared with either PCT or CRP. In the later stage of SIRS, NGAL remained a highly sensitive (76.8%) and specific (86.5%) diagnostic marker compared with either PCT or CRP. Moreover, the area under the curves of NGAL (0.822) were also superior to those seen in either PCT (0.657) or CRP (0.761).

Conclusion

Urinary NGAL is a highly sensitive and specific predictor of SIRS for patients presenting with nephrolithiasis. Further study of NGAL as a reliable biomarker of SIRS is required.     

Serum procalcitonin levels are elevated in esophageal cancer patients with postoperative infectious complications

BACKGROUND: The normal systemic inflammatory response to surgical stimuli often makes early diagnosis of postoperative infections difficult. PURPOSE: We investigated whether serum procalcitonin (PCT) levels may be a useful marker of bacterial infections in patients after invasive surgery. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The subjects were 40 patients who had undergone radical surgery for esophageal carcinoma by a right thoracoabdominal approach. Nine patients were diagnosed to have a postoperative infection during the first 7 days after surgery. Changes in serum PCT levels were compared between the group diagnosed to have postoperative infection (infection group) and the group without infection (noninfection group). RESULTS: The postoperative serum PCT levels were significantly higher in the infection group than in the noninfection group (ANOVA: p < 0.01). Serum PCT peaked on postoperative day (POD) 5 in the infection group (8.7 +/- 8.2 ng/ml, mean +/- SD) and on POD 1 in the noninfection group (0.5 +/- 0.5 ng/ml). No significant differences were found between the two groups in leukocyte count, serum CRP or cytokine levels. The receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve was constructed for infection identification. The area under the ROC curve for peak postoperative PCT was 0.968, and at a cutoff value of 2.0 ng/ml, the sensitivity was 89% and the specificity was 93%. CONCLUSIONS: Serum PCT levels may be useful for the early diagnosis of postoperative infectious complications.     

Sepsis and antithrombin III, prekallikrein, and fibronectin levels in surgical patients

Antithrombin (AT), prekallikrein (PK), and fibronectin (FN) were measured in the plasma of 400 patients with a variety of disease states seen at Detroit Receiving Hospital from October 1983 through June 1987. The average lowest AT measured in these 400 patients was 69 +/- 19 per cent (SD) (Normal = 75-120%). The average lowest AT level in 152 septic patients (50 +/- 17%) was significantly lower than in the 248 patients without sepsis (79 +/- 22%) (P less than 0.001). The average lowest PK levels measured in 132 patients was 52 +/- 19 (Normal = 80-120%). The average PK level in 64 septic patients (34 +/- 17%) was significantly lower than in 68 who were not septic (69 +/- 21%) (P less than 0.001). The average lowest FN levels measured in 109 patients was 230 +/- 118 mcg/ml (Normal = 200-350 mcg/ml). The average FN level in 47 septic patients (162 +/- 88 mcg/ml) was significantly lower than in the 62 nonseptic patients (285 +/- 138) mcg/ml. AT or PK levels less than 50 per cent or FN levels less than 150 mcg/ml during the first 24 to 48 hours after severe trauma or burns were associated with a development of later sepsis in 90 per cent, 77 per cent, and 70 per cent, respectively. Thus, low or falling levels of AT, PK, and FN may be of great help in predicting sepsis or providing an early diagnosis in critically ill or injured patients.