Presepsin as a marker of sepsis and severe pneumonia

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate a role of presepsin for diagnosis of severe pneumonia and sepsis. Methods. The study involved 54 patients with pneumonia, sepsis, and other inflammatory diseases, aged 17 to 77 years. Presepsin level was measured in all the patients using immunochemiluminescent analysis. Before entering the study, all patients were treated with antibacterials in other healthcare institutions. Results. Presepsin level was 3083.8 ± 598.1 pg/mL in patients with pneumogenic sepsis (n = 14), 2867.40 ± 503.64 pg/mL in patients with abdominal sepsis (n = 16), and 873,00 ± 132.92 pg/mL in patients with other inflammatory diseases (n = 8). Preseptin level was 5430.50 ± 721.97 pg/mL in patients with severe pneumogenic sepsis (n = 4) compared to 1471.7 ± 221.8 pg/mL in those with non-severe pneumogenic sepsis (n = 6; p < 0.05) and 642.00 ± 140.59 pg/mL in patients with severe pneumonia (n = 10) compared to 231.30 ± 54.26 pg/mL in patients with non-severe pneumonia (n = 6; p < 0.05). Conclusion. A high level of presepsin could be used as a marker of active infection as it reflects severity of pneumonia and sepsis.Persistent high level of presepsin under antibiotic treatment could indicate failure of the therapy. Therefore, presepsin could be used as a reliable diagnostic marker which helps to determine severity of pneumonia and sepsis, and therapeutic efficacy.