Clinical biochemistry
-
Clinical biochemistry · Oct 2008
Procalcitonin for the diagnosis of early-onset neonatal sepsis: a multilevel probabilistic approach.
To compare the accuracy of procalcitonin (PCT) in early-onset neonatal sepsis (EOS) using standard cut-off values and a multilevel probabilistic approach. ⋯ The multilevel probabilistic approach was more effective in assessing the diagnostic power of PCT in EOS, showing that a wide range of intermediate PCT values was not able to discriminate between presence and absence of infection.
-
Clinical biochemistry · Oct 2008
Transthyretin as a marker to predict outcome in critically ill patients.
A determination of serum Transthyretin (TTR, Prealbumin) level is an objective method of assessing protein catabolic loss of severely ill patients and numerous studies have shown that TTR levels correlate with patient outcomes of non-critically ill patients. We evaluated whether TTR level correlates with the prevalence of PEM in the ICU and evaluated serum TTR level as an indicator of the effectiveness of nutrition support and the prognosis in critically ill patients. ⋯ TTR identified patients at highest risk for metabolic losses associated with stress hypermetabolism as serum TTR levels did not respond early to nutrition support because of the delayed return to anabolic status. It is particularly helpful in removing interpretation bias, and it is an excellent measure of the systemic inflammatory response concurrent with a preexisting state of chronic inanition.
-
Clinical biochemistry · Sep 2008
Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies in lung diseases associated with rheumatoid arthritis.
Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies are highly specific markers for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and useful for predicting RA development and progression. However, it has not been fully determined whether anti-CCP antibodies are associated with pulmonary diseases in RA patients. In the present study, we aimed to elucidate the relationships between anti-CCP antibodies and pulmonary diseases, particularly interstitial lung disease (ILD) and bronchiolitis. ⋯ Detection of serum anti-CCP antibodies has no association with pulmonary diseases in RA patients.
-
Clinical biochemistry · Sep 2008
B-type natriuretic peptides for the diagnosis of congestive heart failure in dyspneic oldest-old patients.
To evaluate the accuracy of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and amino-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) for the diagnosis of congestive heart failure (CHF) in dyspneic patients aged >or=85 years admitted to the Emergency Department (ED), and to define threshold values in this oldest-old population. ⋯ Both BNP and NT-proBNP could potentially be reliable biomarkers for the diagnosis of CHF in oldest-old patients admitted with acute dyspnea to the ED.
-
Clinical biochemistry · Aug 2008
High C5a levels are associated with increased mortality in sepsis patients--no enhancing effect by actin-free Gc-globulin.
Immune paralysis of phagocytic cells due to excess of the complement activation product C5a has been proposed as a critical pathomechanism in sepsis. In vitro studies suggest an interaction of C5a with Group-specific globulin (Gc-globulin). ⋯ Investigation for C5a and/or actin-free Gc-globulin serum levels upon admission to the ICU may be helpful diagnostic tools. In patients with sepsis, C5a levels are an independent predictor of prognosis. However, different to pre-existing in vitro data, a clinically relevant interaction between actin-free Gc-globulin and C5a in terms of prognosis in severe inflammatory conditions is not given.