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Observational Study
. 2015 Sep;29(5):347-52.
doi: 10.1002/jcla.21777. Epub 2014 Jul 10.

Serum Levels of Soluble Urokinase Plasminogen Activator Receptor in Infants with Late-onset Sepsis

Emel Okulu  1 , Saadet Arsan  1 , Ilke Mungan Akin  1 , Can Ates  2 , Serdar Alan  1 , Atila Kilic  1 , Begum Atasay  1
Affiliations
Observational Study

Serum Levels of Soluble Urokinase Plasminogen Activator Receptor in Infants with Late-onset Sepsis

Emel Okulu et al. J Clin Lab Anal. 2015 Sep.

Abstract

Background: Soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) has been studied in a variety of diseases. The aim of the study is to investigate the levels of suPAR in neonates with sepsis.

Methods: The infants enrolled to this prospective study were classified into four groups. Group 1, 2, and 3 were referred as the patient groups (40 infants), and group 4 was referred as control group (26 infants). Blood samples for whole blood count, C-reactive protein (CRP), suPAR and blood culture were obtained before initiating antimicrobial therapy, and two further samples were obtained on day 3 and at the end of the treatment for CRP and suPAR.

Results: The mean gestational ages of patient and control groups was similar. The median level of initial suPAR was 18.8 ng/mL (range 6.8-30.1 ng/mL) in the patient groups, and 6.0 ng/mL (range 3.7-10.8 ng/mL) in the control group (P < 0.001). A significant decrease in suPAR level was observed from the inclusion to the third day and end of the treatment (P < 0.001). The area under the curve (AUC) for suPAR is 0.959 (95% Cl: 0.919-0.999) and for CRP is 0.782 (95% Cl: 0.669-0.895). At a cut-off value of 11.3 ng/mL for suPAR the specificity was 100%, and the sensitivity was 82.5%. There was a positive correlation between laboratory values of CRP and suPAR (r: 0.359, P = 0.003).

Conclusion: This is the first study that investigated the levels of suPAR in neonates and our results demonstrate that suPAR is a powerful marker of inflammation in infants with sepsis.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01294865.

Keywords: marker; neonate; sepsis; soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor; urokinase plasminogen activator receptor.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Figure showing the soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) levels measured at diagnosis and trends of levels at the third day and end of the treatment.
Figure 2
Figure 2
ROC analysis for initial leukocyte count, absolute neutrophil count, C‐reactive protein (CRP) and soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) levels at diagnosis.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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