3 research outputs found
. Serum Soluble ST2 as Diagnostic Marker of Systemic Inflammatory Reactive Syndrome of Bacterial Etiology in Children.
Accurate and timely diagnosis of community-acquired bacterial
versus viral infections in children with systemic inflammatory response
syndrome (SIRS) remains challenging both for clinician and laboratory. In the
quest of new biochemical markers to distinguish bacterial from viral infection,
we have explored the possible role of the soluble secreted form of ST2 (sST2).
Methods: This explorative prospective cohort study included children with
SIRS who were suspected of having community-acquired infections. Plasma
samples for sST2 measurement were obtained from 64 hospitalized children,
41 of whom had SIRS of bacterial etiology and 23 SIRS of viral etiology,
and from 20 healthy, age- and sex-matched control children. sST2 measurement
was carried out by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in parallel with
standard measurements of procalcitonin (PCT) and C reactive protein (CRP).
Results: Our findings demonstrate that children with SIRS associated with
bacterial infection present significantly increased levels of sST2, when
compared with patients with SIRS of viral etiology and healthy children.
More important, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis indicated
that sST2 has a significant diagnostic performance with respect to early
identification of SIRS of bacterial etiology, which was similar to that of
PCT and greater than that of CRP. Finally, the combination of sST2 plus
PCT and/or CRP, and PCT plus CRP increased their sensitivity and negative
predictive value compared with sST2, PCT and CRP alone.
Conclusions: In conclusion, sST2 level may prove useful in predicting bacterial
etiology in children with SIR