Procollagen type III aminoterminal propeptide as biomarker of host response in severe sepsis

• Published in: Journal of critical care 2013-10, Vol.28 (5), p.577-585
• Main Authors: Zakynthinos, Spyros, MD, PhD, Papanikolaou, Spyros, MD, Mentzelopoulos, Spyros, MD, PhD, Konstandelou, Evangellia, MD, Psachoulia, Christina, MD, Mavrommatis, Antonis, MD, PhD
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biomarkers; Biomarkers - blood; Collagen; Critical Care; Female; Host response; Humans; Infections; Male; Middle Aged; Mortality; Peptide Fragments - blood; Predictive Value of Tests; Procollagen - blood; Prospective Studies; Respiratory distress syndrome; ROC Curve; Sensitivity and Specificity; Sepsis; Sepsis - blood; Septic shock; Severe sepsis; Severity of Illness Index; Shock, Septic - blood
• ISSN: 0883-9441; 1557-8615
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcrc.2013.04.004

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study is to test the hypothesis that procollagen type III aminoterminal propeptide (PIIINP) is early elevated in septic episodes and can indicate the acute organ dysfunction/failure characterizing severe sepsis. Materials and Methods This prospective study included 107 consecutive septic patients (44 with sepsis, 13 with severe sepsis, and 50 with septic shock) and 45 controls. After blood sampling (within 48 hours after onset of septic episodes), serum was assayed. Patients were followed up, and their disease severity was daily evaluated. Results Procollagen type III aminoterminal propeptide (median [range]) increased in patients with sepsis (9.4 [2.2-42.4] ng/mL) compared with controls (3.6 [1.9-4.9] ng/mL; P < .001), exhibiting further significant increase in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock (19.5 [6.0-52.4] and 20.2 [1.8-89.2] ng/mL, respectively; P < .01-.001 vs sepsis). Among biomarkers of host response severity, PIIINP was the sole that was independently associated with severe sepsis/septic shock ( P = .01). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for PIIINP to predict which patients with sepsis would eventually develop severe sepsis/septic shock was 0.87; the cutoff of 12 ng/mL had sensitivity 82% and specificity 89%. Conclusions Increased serum PIIINP can signify severe sepsis/septic shock and predict which patients with sepsis will eventually develop severe sepsis/septic shock, thus representing a biomarker of risk stratification of patients with sepsis.