Association of inflammatory and coagulation biomarkers with mortality in patients aged 60 years or older and hospitalized with COVID-19 / Associação entre biomarcadores inflamatórios e da coagulação com mortalidade em pacientes com 60 anos de idade ou mais hospitalizados com COVID-19

Objectives: To analyze the association of inflammatory and coagulation biomarkers with mortality in geriatric patients with COVID-19. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of 206 patients aged 60 years or older who were hospitalized with COVID-19 at an intensive care unit. The analyzed variables were age, sex, length of hospital stay, and inflammatory biomarkers (C-reactive protein, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, procalcitonin, fibrinogen, ferritin, and d-dimer). We constructed a receiver operating characteristic curve and analyzed the area under the curve to evaluate the accuracy of biomarkers associated with mortality in patients with COVID-19. Results: Mean age was 72 (± 8) years. There were 101 deaths (49% of the total sample), which were significantly more frequent (p = 0.006) in the older age groups and were distributed as follows: 37.50% (60 ­ 69 years old); 50% (70 ­ 79 years old); 67.50% (80 ­ 89 years old); and 75% (over 90 years old). Mortality was associated with increased serum levels of procalcitonin, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, C-reactive protein, and d-dimer, and decreased fibrinogen levels. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio occupied the largest area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (area under the curve 0.859) in this group. Conclusions: In this study, inflammatory biomarkers neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, procalcitonin, C-reactive protein, and d-dimer were associated with mortality in older patients with COVID-19 hospitalized at an intensive care unit, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio presented the best accuracy.

Objetivos: Analisar associação de biomarcadores inflamatórios e da coagulação com mortalidade em pacientes geriátricos com COVID-19. Metodologia: Estudo do tipo coorte retrospectiva de 206 pacientes com 60 anos de idade ou mais internados em unidade de terapia intensiva (UTI) com COVID-19. As variáveis analisadas foram idade, sexo, tempo de permanência hospitalar e biomarcadores inflamatórios, sendo esses proteína C reativa (PCR), relação neutrófilo-linfócitos (RNL), procalcitonina, fibrinogênio, ferritina e D-dímero. Empregou-se a curva ROC, com análise da área sob a curva (ACR), para avaliar a acurácia dos biomarcadores associados à mortalidade nos pacientes com COVID-19. Resultados: A média de idade foi de 72 (± 8) anos. Ocorreram 101 óbitos (49,02% da amostra total), significativamente mais frequente (p = 0,006) nas faixas etárias mais elevadas, distribuídos por faixa etária: 37,50% (60 ­ 69 anos); 50% (70 ­ 79 anos); 67,50% (80 ­ 89 anos); e 75% (nos maiores de 90 anos). A mortalidade foi associada a aumento dos níveis séricos dos biomarcadores procalcitonina, relação neutrófiloslinfócitos (RNL), proteína C reativa (PCR) e D-dímero, bem como diminuição dos níveis de fibrinogênio. A RNL ocupou a maior área sob a curva ROC (ACR 0,859) nesse grupo. Conclusões: Neste estudo, os biomarcadores inflamatórios RNL, procalcitonina, PCR e D-dímero foram associados com mortalidade em pacientes idosos portadores de COVID-19 internados em UTI, e a RNL foi a que apresentou a melhor acurácia.

Marcadores hematológicos y bioquímicos para el diagnóstico precoz de bacteriemiascausadas por Enterobacteriaceae resistentes a los carbapenémicos / Haematological and biochemical markers for the early diagnosis of bacteremias caused bycarbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae

INTRODUCCIÓN. Las bacteriemias causadas por Enterobacteriaceae resistentes a carbapenémicos se asocian con altas tasas de mortalidad a diferencia de las bacteriemias causadas por Enterobacteriaceae sensibles a carbapenémicos. Los hallazgos clínicos y de laboratorio son importantes para determinar los esquemas terapéuticos y su pronóstico; su diagnóstico precoz resulta esencial para un manejo adecuado. OBJETIVO. Relacionar valores de marcadores sanguíneos y bioquímicos en bacteriemias causadas por Enterobacteriaceae resistentes a carbapenémicos. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS. Estudio analítico transversal. Población de 427 y muestra de 224 datos de hemocultivos positivos para Enterobacteriaceae de pacientes atendidos en el Hospital de Especialidades Carlos Andrade Marín en el periodo mayo 2016 a julio 2018. Criterios de inclusión: i) al menos un hemocultivo positivo; ii) recuperación del aislado de CRE o CSE y iii) recolección simultanea de muestras de sangre y pruebas de laboratorio. Criterios de exclusión: i) bacteriemias polimicrobianas; ii) valores fuera de rango y iii) reportes sin valores numéricos. El análisis de datos se realizó mediante el programa estadístico International Business Machines Statistical Package for the Social Sciences versión 24.0. RESULTADOS. Se demostró que el recuento de leucocitos [OR 1,21 (95% IC: 1,03-1,43)], el recuento de plaquetas [OR 1,65 (95% IC: 1,37-1,98)] y el tiempo parcial de tromboplastina [OR 1,29 (95% IC: 1,04-1,60)] fueron buenas variables predictoras independientes, mediante análisis de regresión logística multivariante. CONCLUSIÓN. La trombocitopenia y el tiempo parcial de tromboplastina prolongado se asociaron con bacteremia causada por Enterobacteriaceae resistentes a carbapenémicos.

INTRODUCTION. Bacteremias caused by carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae are associated with high mortality rates in contrast to bacteremias caused by carbapenem-sensitive Enterobacteriaceae. Clinical and laboratory findings are important in determining therapeutic regimens and prognosis; early diagnosis is essential for appropriate management. OBJECTIVE. To relate blood and biochemical marker values in bacteremia caused by carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Cross-sectional analytical study. Population of 427 and sample of 224 blood culture data positive for Enterobacteriaceae from patients attended at the Carlos Andrade Marín Specialties Hospital in the period May 2016 to July 2018. Inclusion criteria: i) at least one positive blood culture; ii) recovery of CRE or CSE isolate and iii) simultaneous collection of blood samples and laboratory tests. Exclusion criteria: i) polymicrobial bacteremia; ii) out-of-range values and iii) reports without numerical values. Data analysis was performed using the statistical program International Business Machines Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 24.0. RESULTS. Leukocyte count [OR 1.21 (95% CI: 1.03-1.43)], platelet count [OR 1.65 (95% CI: 1.37- 1.98)] and partial thromboplastin time [OR 1.29 (95% CI: 1.04-1.60)] were shown to be good independent predictor variables, by multivariate logistic regression analysis. CONCLUSION. Thrombocytopenia and prolonged partial thromboplastin time were associated with bacteremia caused by carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae.

Evolución de los niveles séricos de proteína C-reactiva y procalcitonina tras resección hepática / Evolution of C-reactive protein and procalcitonin serum levels after hepatic resection

Resumen Objetivo: Evaluar la evolución de los niveles séricos de proteína C-reactiva y procalcitonina tras resección hepática. Materiales y Método: Estudio observacional prospectivo, con pacientes con diferentes tipos de resección hepática, sin infección ni complicaciones mayores posoperatorias. Los niveles de proteína C-reactiva y procalcitonina se midieron el día anterior a la cirugía y diariamente, hasta el 7° día, o hasta el alta, lo primero que ocurriera. Resultados: Se incluyeron 42 pacientes. Los niveles de procalcitonina, a las 24 h, correlacionaban significativamente con la duración de la operación (p = 0,04). A las 48 h, los niveles de proteína C-reactiva fueron mayores en las resecciones hepáticas no lobares que en las lobares (p = 0,049). A las 24 h, los niveles de procalcitonina aumentaron más en las hepatectomías mayores que en las menores (p = 0,017). Los niveles de procalcitonina fueron significativamente menores en los pacientes con abordaje laparoscópico en los 4 primeros días. Conclusión: La resección hepática produce un aumento de los niveles séricos de proteína C-reactiva y procalcitonina, pero con menor intensidad si el abordaje es laparoscópico. Los niveles séricos de proteína C-reactiva tienden a ser mayores en las hepatectomías menos extensas, mientras que los de procalcitonina tienden a ser mayores en las más extensas.

Aim: To evaluate the postoperative evolution of C-reactive protein and procalcitonin after hepatic resection. Materials and Method: Prospective observational study, including patients with different types of hepatic resection, without infectious or major postoperative complications. Procalcitonin and C-reactive protein serum levels were measured on the day prior to surgery and every day after surgery until the seventh postoperative day. Results: Forty-two patients were included. There was a significant correlation between procalcitonin levels at 24 hours after surgery and the overall length of surgery (p = 0.04). C-reactive protein was higher in nonlobar hepatectomies than in lobar hepatectomies 48 hours after surgery (p = 0.049). Procalcitonin was higher in major hepatectomies than in minor hepatectomies 24 hours after surgery (p = 0.017). Procalcitonin levels were significantly lower in patients with laparoscopic approach in the first four postoperative days. Conclusion: Hepatic resection increases the serum levels of C-reactive protein and procalcitonin, but with less intensity if the approach is laparoscopic. C-reactive protein levels tend to be higher in less extensive hepatectomies and procalcitonin levels tend to be higher in more extensive resections.

Procalcitonin as an early marker in the detection of anastomotic intestinal leak in a Universitary Hospital of Bogotá / Procalcitonina como um marcador precoce na detecção de vazamento anastomótico intestinal em um Hospital Universitário de Bogotá

ABSTRACT Introduction: Anastomotic leakage is a complication of intestinal anastomosis, with an incidence of 2%-7% in centers of experience. To be able to achieve an early detection, serological markers such as Procalcitonin were included. Methods: Descriptive retrospective cohort study of patients taken to colorectal surgery with intestinal anastomosis, the objective is to estimate association between procalcitonin (≥2 ng/dl) as an early inflammatory marker and anastomotic leakage in a Coloproctological Service of a highest level of health care hospital, between September 2017 and January 2019. Results: Cohort of 237 patients, 51% women (18-89 years), with multiple comorbidities in 81% of patients, colon cancer was the most operated pathology (53.1%). Laparoscopic approach was the most applied 60.34%, colorectal anastomosis was the most frequently performed (47.26%). Ileocolic anastomosis presented a higher frequency (43.75%-n:7) of dehiscence. Anastomotic leakage was associated with a serum procalcitonin positive 3 days postoperatively (p-value <0.05). Patients with a positive result had 4.28 times higher risk of presenting an anastomotic leak, compared to this risk in those patients with negative results 3 days postoperatively, this association was statistically significant 95% CI (1.34-14.16); p value <0.05. Conclusion: Anastomotic leakage is a source of morbidity in patients taken to intestinal anastomosis. It's necessary to guarantee an early diagnosis of this complication, prevent abscesses and secondary peritonitis, providing adequate treatment and even reducing the associated mortality. We recommend including the procalcitonin in the assessment protocol on the third day of postoperative follow-up.

RESUMO Introdução: O vazamento anastomótico é uma complicação da anastomose intestinal, com uma incidência de 2% a 7% em centros com experiência. Para conseguir uma detecção precoce, foram incluídos marcadores sorológicos como a Procalcitonina. Métodos: Estudo de coorte descritivo e retrospectivo de pacientes submetidos à cirurgia colorretal com anastomose intestinal, cujo objetivo é estimar a associação entre os níveis de procalcitonina (≥ 2 ng/dL) como marcador inflamatório precoce e vazamento anastomótico em um Serviço de Coloproctologia de alto nível de atenção à saúde hospitalar, entre setembro de 2017 a janeiro de 2019. Resultados: Coorte de 237 pacientes, 51% mulheres (18−9 anos), com múltiplas comorbidades em 81% dos pacientes, sendo o câncer de cólon a patologia mais operada (53,1%). A abordagem laparoscópica foi a mais utilizada, em 60,34%, e a anastomose colorretal foi a mais frequentemente realizada (47,26%). A anastomose ileocólica apresentou a maior frequência (43,75%, n = 7) de deiscências. O vazamento anastomótico foi associado a procalcitonina sérica positiva 3 dias após a cirurgia (p < 0,05). Pacientes com resultado positivo tinham um risco 4,28 vezes maior de apresentar vazamento anastomótico, em comparação com esse mesmo risco nos pacientes com resultado negativo 3 dias após a cirurgia, sendo essa associação estatisticamente significativa, (IC95%:1,34−14,16); p < 0,05. Conclusão: O vazamento anastomótico é fonte de morbidade em pacientes encaminhados para anastomose intestinal. É necessário garantir o diagnóstico precoce desta complicação, prevenir abscessos e peritonites secundárias, proporcionando tratamento adequado e até mesmo reduzindo a mortalidade associada. Recomendamos incluir a procalcitonina no protocolo de avaliação no terceiro dia de seguimento pós-operatório.

Serum procalcitonin and C-reactive protein in the evaluation of bacterial infection in generalized pustular psoriasis

Abstract Background There is an obvious need for more prompt and specific biomarkers of bacterial infections in generalized pustular psoriasis patients. Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic properties and define appropriate cut-off values of procalcitonin and C-reactive protein in predicting bacterial infection in generalized pustular psoriasis patients. Methods Sixty-four generalized pustular psoriasis patients hospitalized from June 2014 to May 2017 were included in this retrospective study. The values of procalcitonin, C-reactive protein, details of infection, and other clinical parameters were analyzed. Results Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis generated similar areas (p = 0.051) under the curve for procalcitonin 0.896 (95% CI 0.782-1.000) and C-reactive protein 0.748 (95% CI 0.613-0.883). A cut-off value of 1.50 ng/mL for procalcitonin and 46.75 mg/dL for C-reactive protein gave the best combination of sensitivity (75.0% for procalcitonin, 91.7% for C-reactive protein) and specificity (100% for procalcitonin, 53.8% for C-reactive protein). Procalcitonin was significantly positively correlated with C-reactive protein levels both in the infected (r = 0.843, p = 0.040) and non-infected group (r = 0.799, p = 0.000). Study limitations The sample size and the retrospective design are limitations. Conclusions The serum levels of procalcitonin and C-reactive protein performed equally well to differentiate bacterial infection from non-infection in generalized pustular psoriasis patients. The reference value of procalcitonin and C-reactive protein applied to predicting bacterial infection in most clinical cases may not be suitable for generalized pustular psoriasis patients. C-reactive protein had better diagnostic sensitivity than procalcitonin; however, the specificity of procalcitonin was superior to that of C-reactive protein.

Procalcitonin levels among patients with fever secondary to severe intracerebral infection. A cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Making the differential diagnosis between central fever and infectious fever is critically important among intracerebral hemorrhage patients followed up in intensive care units (ICUs). Serum procalcitonin (PCT) has been found to be a promising biomarker for the initial diagnosis of infection, even before culturing results. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relationship between PCT and both fever etiologies and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels among critically ill patients with suspected intracerebral hemorrhage. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional study in a public university hospital in Elazig, Turkey. METHODS: ICU patients diagnosed with intracerebral hemorrhage and normal procalcitonin levels were included in this study. From clinical assessments and cultures, they were classified as presenting either infectious or central fever. The sensitivity and specificity of PCT and CRP for predicting infection were calculated using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. RESULTS: There were 98 ICU patients with diagnoses of intracerebral hemorrhage. The median (interquartile range) PCT levels of patients with infectious and central fever were 4 (0.9-11) and 0.1 (0.1-0.4) ng/ml, respectively, with a statistically significant intergroup difference (P < 0.001). The areas under the ROC curve for predicting infectious or central fever PCT and CRP were 0.958 (P < 0.001) and 0.816 (P < 0.001), respectively. A statistically significant positive correlation was detected between PCT and CRP levels in patients with infectious fever (rho: 0.461; P = 0.003), but not in patients with central fever. CONCLUSIONS: PCT can possibly be used as a biomarker to differentiate between infectious and central fever among ICU patients.

Altered peripheral lymphocyte subsets in untreated systemic lupus erythematosus patients with infections

The leading cause of death in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients is infection. The objective of this study was to evaluate the distribution of lymphocyte subsets in untreated SLE patients with infections. This was a cross-sectional study. Data from January 2017 to May 2018 were collected. Flow cytometry was used to measure the peripheral lymphocyte subsets including CD3+T cells, CD4+T cells, CD8+T cells, CD19+B cells, CD3-CD16+CD56NK cells, and CD3+CD16+CD56NKT cells in 25 healthy controls and 52 treatment-naive SLE patients, among whom 13 were complicated with infections. Association between the lymphocyte subsets and infections was further analyzed. SLE patients with infections (n=13) showed a significantly higher incidence rate of fever (84.6 vs 28.2%) and serositis (84.6 vs 23.1%), increased level of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (60.5±30.1 vs 37.4±27.1 mm/h), serum C-reactive protein (CRP) (102.7±94.9 vs 9.4±14.9 mg/L), procalcitonin (PCT) (1.07±0.08 vs 0.16±0.13 μg/L), and lower blood hemoglobin (Hb) (93.0±20.5 vs 110.4±16.0 g/L) level compared with non-infection patients (n=39) (all P<0.05). In comparison with non-infectious SLE patients (387.9±261.6/μL), CD4+T cells count decreased significantly in infectious SLE patients (217.8±150.4/μL) (P<0.05), and it was negatively correlated with infection-related indicators including PCT (r=−0.573, P=0.041) and CRP (r=−0.596, P=0.032) levels. Our findings suggested that abnormalities of peripheral lymphocyte subsets were related to the immune disorder of lupus itself, regardless of immunosuppressive treatment. Monitoring lymphocyte subsets, especially CD4+T cells, may be helpful for identifying the presence of infection in SLE patients.