Diagnostic and prognostic markers in sepsis

Abstract

Sepsis is a common and serious complication in intensive care unit patients. An important factor in optimizing survival rates in septic patients is the ability to start treatment early in the course of disease; there is, therefore, a need for accurate diagnostic tests. In recent years, there has been a move away from the rather vague and nonspecific signs that were previously used to diagnose sepsis towards the possible adjunctive role of biomarkers. Many biomarkers have been proposed and assessed clinically, but none alone is specific enough to definitively determine diagnosis. The future direction of research is most likely a greater focus on the use of panels or combinations of markers with clinical signs. Some biomarkers may also be useful for prognosis and guiding therapy. Here, the authors will review our changing approaches to sepsis diagnosis and discuss some of the markers that seem most relevant at the present time.

Keywords::

• biomarkers
• C-reactive protein
• procalcitonin
• sepsis

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Notes

ANP: Atrial natriuretic peptide; CRP: C-reactive protein; HMGB1: High mobility group box 1; HSP: Heat shock protein; PCT: Procalcitonin; RAGE: Receptor for advanced glycation end products; sTREM: Soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1; suPAR: Soluble urokinase-type plasminogen receptor; TLR: Toll-like receptor; vWF: von Willebrand factor.