The increase in copeptin levels in mild head trauma does not predict the severity and the outcome of brain damage.

AIM: To investigate the copeptin prognostic role in mild head trauma. METHODS: We enrolled 105 adult patients who entered the emergency room because of recent mild head trauma; we evaluated: clinical picture, imaging and laboratory data (including copeptin). RESULTS: Copeptin resulted higher in mild head trauma patients compared with controls: 29.89 pmol/l versus 7.05 pmol/l (p = 0.0008). Copeptin failed in identifying patients with or without brain lesions detected by CT scan, and patients with or without adverse events during the 30 days follow-up. CONCLUSION: We confirmed that mild head trauma patients have a significantly higher copeptin plasma levels compared with controls. Nevertheless, we did not observe a significant role for copeptin in traumatic brain injury patients regarding brain damage and outcome.

Usefulness of suPAR in the risk stratification of patients with sepsis admitted to the emergency department.

To investigate the role of suPAR in patients with sepsis admitted to the Emergency Department (ED). We performed multicentre prospective trial including patients admitted to the ED of three different Italian hospitals. Patients were studied upon admission on day 1, 2, 4 and 7. They were subdivided into two groups: sepsis (group 1) and severe sepsis or septic shock (group 2). The two groups were comparable for age, gender and CRP level on day 1. Patients with severe sepsis or septic shock displayed significantly higher baseline levels of suPAR, PCT and lactate. In both groups, suPAR decreased across the time (p < 0.0005). Group 1 was not different from group 2 (p = 0.545) in mortality at 7 days, while group 2 had higher mortality at 30 days than group 1 (p = 0.022). At the multivariate analysis, lactate1 (p = 0.012) and age (p = 0.019) were independent predictors of mortality at 7 days, whereas suPAR1 (p = 0.023) and age (p = 0.032) were independent predictors of mortality at 30 days. Lactate and suPAR resulted the most predictive biomarkers in the risk stratification of patients with suspected infection initially admitted to the ED, according to their role in predicting 7- and 30-day mortality, respectively.

Accidental digitoxin intoxication: an interplay between laboratory and clinical medicine.

INTRODUCTION: Two Italian adults arrived at the Emergency Department referring diarrhea, nausea and vomiting for 4 days; weakness, fatigue and visual hallucinations were also complained of. Patients reported the ingestion of some leaves of a plant, which they supposed to be "donkey ears", a week before. Physical examination showed hypotension and bradycardia and ECG examination disclosed sinus rhythm and repolarization abnormalities (scooping of the ST-T complex) in both patients and a 2:1 AV block in the man. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Digoxin concentration was evaluated twice for each patient (at the admission and after 4 hours) by the automated immunoassay system ADVIA Centaur. Digitoxin concentration was evaluated by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). RESULTS: Despite clinical picture was suggestive of digitalis intoxication, digoxin levels were undetectable. Due to the more severe clinical picture, the male patient was treated with anti-digoxin antibodies (Digifab) achieving a good clinical improvement and remission of the AV block within two hours. Initial diagnosis was confirmed by LC-MS/MS showing high digitoxin concentrations, but digoxin was undetectable. Patients remained stable and 48 hours later were discharged from the hospital. CONCLUSION: Whereas digoxin determination frequently relies on monoclonal antibodies which do not cross-react to digitoxin, polyclonal antibodies constituting Digifab recognize a large spectrum of cardiac glycosides, including digitoxin. This report emphasizes the primary role of the clinical approach to patients in the emergency setting and how an active communication and a continuous sharing of professional experiences between Laboratory and Clinicians ensure an early and correct diagnosis.