Elsevier

Clinical Biochemistry

Volume 44, Issues 14–15, October 2011, Pages 1227-1230
Clinical Biochemistry

The diagnostic and prognostic significance of soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor in systemic inflammatory response syndrome

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinbiochem.2011.07.006Get rights and content

Abstract

Objectives

This study was intended to investigate the value of suPAR, C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) in the determination and prognosis of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) patients.

Methods

The study was performed among patients with at least two SIRS criteria. PCT, CRP and suPAR were analyzed from the blood specimens taken.

Results

Eighty-five patients were enrolled in the SIRS group (44 bacteremia, 20 urinary tract infection, 12 pneumonia and 9 non-infection), and 53 individuals in the control group. A significant correlation was determined between suPAR, PCT and CRP values in both groups (P < 0.0001). A suPAR cutoff value of 2.8 ng/mL was associated with an NPV of 87% and PPV of 91%, with 92% sensitivity and 85% specificity. A relatively high suPAR level that might predict fatality was also determined in fatal cases (P = 0.001).

Conclusion

suPAR possesses high sensitivity and specificity levels in terms of differential diagnosis, and high suPAR levels can predict fatality.

Introduction

Sepsis is a clinical syndrome defined as a systemic response to infection and one of the major causes of mortality and morbidity in hospitals [1], [2]. Diagnosing sepsis is further complicated because clinical and laboratory signs often appear similar to other non-infectious causes of systemic inflammation. Clinical and laboratory signs of systemic inflammation, including changes in body temperature > 38 °C or < 36 °C, heart rate > 90 beats/min, hyperventilation (respiratory rate > 20 breaths/min), or PaCO2 < 32 mm Hg, white blood cell count > 12 × 109/L, or < 4 × 109/L, >10% immature neutrophils, are sensitive. The co-presence of two or more of these clinical and laboratory sign criteria is defined as systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) [3]. SIRS is generally used in the infection identification, though infection is not always present in SIRS patients. This makes it particularly difficult to accurately identify sepsis patients in good time. There is therefore a need for reliable biomarkers to help with sepsis diagnosis. C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) are currently used on a routine basis [4], [5], [6]. Soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) has recently been reported as a potential biomarker for infection diseases [6]. Urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor is expressed on neutrophils, lymphocytes, macrophages, endothelial and malignant cells. suPAR is a soluble form of the urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor [7].

The aim of this study was to determine the predictive role of suPAR, PCT and CRP values in the differential diagnosis and prognosis of SIRS patients.

Section snippets

Materials and methods

The study was performed between January and June, 2009, at the Karadeniz Technical University Medical Faculty Hospital in Turkey. Patients with at least two of the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) criteria defined in 1992 [temperature > 38 °C or < 36 °C, heart rate > 90 beats/min, respiratory rate > 20 breaths/min, or PaCO2 < 32 mm Hg, white blood cell count > 12 × 109/L or < 4 × 109/L or >10% immature neutrophils] were enrolled. A control group made up healthy blood donors was established.

Statistical analysis

Descriptive statistics was performed for all the studied variables. The data obtained in measurements of the normal distribution were analyzed using the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test. Data in conformity with normal distribution were analyzed using Student's t-test, and those not conforming to normal distribution using the Mann Whitney-U test. Data obtained by measurements were given as mean ± standard deviation. Data obtained by counting were given as numbers (%); analyses were performed using the

Results

Eighty-five consecutive patients with SIRS, 31 female and 54 male, with a mean age of 53.4 ± 13.3, were included in this study. Bacteremia was determined in 44 patients in the SIRS group, urinary tract infection (UTI) in 20, pneumonia in 12 and no infection in nine. Fifty-three subjects were enrolled in the control group, of whom 20 were female and 33 male, with a mean age of 28.1 ± 6.6. A suPAR value of 10.2 ± 6.6, PCT of 10.8 ± 22.9 and CRP 13.1 ± 10.6 were determined in the SIRS patients, compared to

Discussion

suPAR is a new biomarker, and there have as yet been few studies on the subject. Studies have reported that plasma suPAR levels rise in patients with sepsis, stating that suPAR emission increases during acute inflammation [7], [8]. Concentrations of suPAR increase in conditions that involve immune activation, and studies have shown that high concentrations of suPAR portend a poor clinical outcome in such diverse infections as tuberculosis, malaria, HIV infection, Crimean–Congo hemorrhagic fever

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    I have no conflict of interest and received no financial support.

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