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. 2017 Jan 24;21(1):14.
doi: 10.1186/s13054-016-1578-9.

The role of total cell-free DNA in predicting outcomes among trauma patients in the intensive care unit: a systematic review

Mikail Gögenur  1 , Jakob Burcharth  2 , Ismail Gögenur  2
Affiliations

The role of total cell-free DNA in predicting outcomes among trauma patients in the intensive care unit: a systematic review

Mikail Gögenur et al. Crit Care. .

Abstract

Background: Cell-free DNA has been proposed as a means of predicting complications among severely injured patients. The purpose of this systematic review was to assess whether cell-free DNA was useful as a prognostic biomarker for outcomes in trauma patients in the intensive care unit.

Methods: We searched Pubmed, Embase, Scopus and the Cochrane Central Register for Controlled Trials and reference lists of relevant articles for studies that assessed the prognostic value of cell-free DNA detection in trauma patients in the intensive care unit. Outcomes of interest included survival, posttraumatic complications and severity of trauma. Due to considerable heterogeneity between the included studies, a checklist was formed to assess quality of cell-free DNA measurement.

Results: A total of 14 observational studies, including 904 patients, were eligible for analysis. Ten studies were designed as prospective cohort studies; three studies included selected patients from a cohort while one study was of a retrospective design. We found a significant correlation between higher values of cell-free DNA and higher mortality. This significant correlation was evident as early as on intensive care unit admission. Likewise, cell-free DNA predicted the severity of trauma and posttraumatic complications in a majority of patients.

Conclusion: The amount of cell-free DNA can function as a prognostic tool for mortality and to a lesser extent severity of trauma and posttraumatic complications. Standardizing cell-free DNA measurement is paramount to ensure further research in cell-free DNA as a prognostic tool.

Keywords: Intensive care unit; Trauma; cfDNA; mtDNA; nDNA.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flow diagram. PRISMA flow diagram of included studies in qualitative synthesis. ICU intensive care unit
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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