The C-reactive protein-to-prealbumin ratio predicts fistula closure

Low preoperative serum prealbumin levels and risk of postoperative complications after transsphenoidal surgery in nonfunctioning pituitary adenoma

OBJECTIVE

In other specialties, malnutrition has been shown to be closely linked to postoperative complications. However, there is no research on the relationship between nutritional parameters and the complications of transsphenoidal pituitary surgery. This study was designed to identify the relationship between preoperative nutritional markers and postoperative complications in nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas.

METHODS

This observational study included 429 patients whose first transsphenoidal surgery was performed in Shandong Provincial Hospital between January 2015 and July 2020. Preoperative prealbumin, retinol-binding protein (RBP), the prognostic nutritional index, clinicopathological data, and postoperative complication data were collected to investigate outcomes.

RESULTS

After multivariable adjustment, preoperative prealbumin and RBP were inversely associated with risk of complication (p value for trend = 0.006, 0.021). The increase of preoperative serum prealbumin and RBP concentration may decrease the risk of postoperative intracranial infection and hyponatremia (both OR per SD increment, < 1; p < 0.05). The increase of preoperative prealbumin may also decrease the risk of diabetes insipidus (OR per SD increment, 0.591; p = 0.001), but similar results were not obtained for the RBP (p > 0.05). Prealbumin and RBP are both useful in predicting overall complications (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUC] 0.749, 0.678), especially in intracranial infection (AUC 0.794, 0.738). However, the predictive value of prealbumin was better than that of RBP.

CONCLUSIONS

Low preoperative prealbumin or RBP concentrations may be associated with higher surgical risk, especially for intracranial infection. This study emphasizes the suggestion that preoperative prealbumin and RBP concentrations may be vital factors in predicting operative complications of nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas.

Risk Factors for No-Reflow in Patients with ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Who Underwent Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Case-Control Study

Methods

This case-control study retrospectively reviewed the medical data of patients treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention within 12 h after STEMI onset between January 2010 and January 2013 at the Department of Cardiology of the Beijing Anzhen Hospital.

Results

A total of 902 patients were included in the analysis. The basic characteristics between the reflow and no-reflow groups were similar, except for time-to-hospital admission, heart rate, plasma glucose, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP)/prealbumin (PAB), neutrophil count, intraaortic balloon pump, and aspiration thrombectomy. The multivariable analysis showed that hsCRP/PAB (OR = 1.003, 95% CI: 1.000–1.006, P=0.022), neutrophil count (OR = 1.085, 95% CI: 1.028–1.146, P=0.003), plasma glucose levels (OR = 1.086, 95% CI: 1.036–1.138, P=0.001), diabetes mellitus (OR = 0.596, 95% CI: 0.371–0.958, P=0.033), Killip classification >1 (OR = 2.002, 95% CI: 1.273–3.148, P=0.003), intraoperative intraaortic balloon pump (IABP) use (OR = 3.257, 95% CI: 1.954–5.428, P=0.001), and aspiration thrombectomy (OR = 3.412, 95% CI: 2.259–5.152, P=0.001) were independently associated with no-reflow.

Conclusion

hsCRP/PAB, neutrophil count, plasma glucose levels, diabetes mellitus, Killip classification, intraoperative IABP use, and aspiration thrombectomy were independent risk factors for no-reflow in patients with STEMI.

The C-reactive protein to prealbumin ratio on admission and its relationship with outcome in patients hospitalized for acute heart failure

BACKGROUND

Inflammation and malnutrition are common problems in patients who are hospitalized for acute heart failure (AHF). C-reactive protein (CRP) is an acute-phase reactant and nonspecific marker for evaluating systemic inflammation. There has been growing interest in prealbumin for nutritional assessment. Additionally, prealbumin is a negative acute-phase protein because its synthesis is suppressed in the inflammatory setting in which cytokines stimulate hepatic production of acute-phase proteins (e.g. CRP). Therefore, the CRP to prealbumin ratio (CP ratio) may be a comprehensive marker of inflammation and malnutrition. We evaluated the relationship of the CP ratio with mortality in patients with AHF.

METHODS

We analyzed 257 hospitalized patients with AHF who had CRP and prealbumin levels examined on admission.

RESULTS

The median CP ratio on admission was 0.57, with an interquartile range of 0.11 to 1.94. In receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the area under the curve was 0.729 and the optimal cut-off point of the CP ratio for all-cause death was >1.60 (sensitivity: 67.5%; specificity: 77.6%; p = 0.003). Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed that patients with a high CP ratio (>1.60) had a significantly greater risk of all-cause, cardiac, and non-cardiac death (log-rank test, all p<0.001) than patients with a low CP ratio (≤1.60). Multivariable analysis adjusted for imbalanced baseline variables showed that a high CP ratio was independently associated with higher all-cause mortality (adjusted hazard ratio 3.88; 95% confidence interval 1.91-7.86; p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The ratio of two hepatic proteins, CRP and prealbumin, may be useful in risk stratification of patients with AHF.

High sensitivity C-reactive protein to prealbumin ratio measurement as a marker of the prognosis in acute coronary syndrome

The study aimed to determine whether high sensitivity C-reactive protein to prealbumin (hs-CRP/PAB) ratio could be used to predict in-hospital major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). A total of 659 patients with ACS were included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups: high hs-CRP/PAB ratio group (hs-CRP/PAB ≥0.010) and low hs-CRP/PAB ratio group (hs-CRP/PAB <0.010). MACE was defined as death, cardiogenic shock, re-infarction and acute heart failure. Logistic regression was performed and the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was generated to evaluate the correlation of hs-CRP/PAB ratio and MACE in patients with ACS. The occurrence rate of MACE was significantly higher in high hs-CRP/PAB ratio group when compared with that in low hs-CRP/PAB ratio group (P < 0.001). Multivariable analysis determined that hs-CRP/PAB ratio was an independent predictor of MACE (adjusted odds ratio: 1.276, 95% confidence interval: 1.106–1.471, P = 0.001). Moreover, the area under the curve value of hs-CRP/PAB ratio for predicting MACE was higher than hs-CRP and equal to PAB. High hs-CRP/PAB ratio was considered as a prognostic parameter of MACE in ACS patients, with the predictive power equal to PAB but greater than hs-CRP.

Nutritional Laboratory Markers in Malnutrition

Serum visceral proteins such as albumin and prealbumin have traditionally been used as markers of the nutritional status of patients. Prealbumin is nowadays often preferred over albumin due to its shorter half live, reflecting more rapid changes of the nutritional state. However, recent focus has been on an appropriate nutrition-focused physical examination and on the patient's history for diagnosing malnutrition, and the role of inflammation as a risk factor for malnutrition has been more and more recognized. Inflammatory signals are potent inhibitors of visceral protein synthesis, and the use of these proteins as biomarkers of the nutritional status has been debated since they are strongly influenced by inflammation and less so by protein energy stores. The current consensus is that laboratory markers could be used as a complement to a thorough physical examination. Other markers of the nutritional status such as urinary creatinine or 3-methylhistidine as indicators of muscle protein breakdown have not found widespread use. Serum IGF-1 is less influenced by inflammation and falls during malnutrition. However, its concentration changes are not sufficiently specific to be useful clinically as a marker of malnutrition, and serum IGF-1 has less been used in clinical trials. Nevertheless, biomarkers of malnutrition such as prealbumin may be of interest as easily measurable predictors of the prognosis for surgical outcomes and of mortality in severe illnesses.

Low preoperative serum prealbumin levels and the postoperative surgical site infection risk in elective spine surgery: a consecutive series

OBJECTIVENutritional deficiency negatively affects outcomes in many health conditions. In spine surgery, evidence linking preoperative nutritional deficiency to postoperative surgical site infection (SSI) has been limited to small retrospective studies. Authors of the current study analyzed a large consecutive cohort of patients who had undergone elective spine surgery to determine the relationship between a serum biomarker of nutritional status (preoperative prealbumin levels) and SSI.METHODSThe authors conducted a retrospective review of the electronic medical charts of patients who had undergone posterior spinal surgeries and whose preoperative prealbumin level was available. Additional data pertinent to the risk of SSI were also collected. Patients who developed a postoperative SSI were identified, and risk factors for postoperative SSI were analyzed. Nutritional deficiency was defined as a preoperative serum prealbumin level ≤ 20 mg/dl.RESULTSAmong a consecutive series of 387 patients who met the study criteria for inclusion, the infection rate for those with preoperative prealbumin ≤ 20 mg/dl was 17.8% (13/73), versus 4.8% (15/314) for those with preoperative prealbumin > 20 mg/dl. On univariate and multivariate analysis a low preoperative prealbumin level was a risk factor for postoperative SSI with a crude OR of 4.29 (p < 0.01) and an adjusted OR of 3.28 (p = 0.02). In addition, several previously known risk factors for infection, including diabetes, spinal fusion, and number of operative levels, were significant for the development of an SSI.CONCLUSIONSIn this consecutive series, preoperative prealbumin levels, a serum biomarker of nutritional status, correlated with the risk of SSI in elective spine surgery. Prehabilitation before spine surgery, including strategies to improve nutritional status in patients with nutritional deficiencies, may increase value and improve spine care.

Association of Serum Prealbumin with Angiographic Severity in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome

Background

Serum prealbumin (PA), which is a nutritional index, has been found to be associated with severities and prognoses of various diseases. However, there are no reports about the relationship between PA and angiographic severity of coronary artery disease.

Material/Methods

This cross-sectional study included 867 patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) who underwent coronary angiography. Patients were divided into quartiles of PA and coronary artery stenosis was determined by angiographic Gensini score, the presence of high Gensini score (Gensini score ≥120), and triple-vessel disease. Multivariate linear and logistic regression analyses were performed to explore the relationship between PA and disease severity in a coronary angiogram.

Results

There was a significant and independent negative correlation between PA and Gensini score in multivariate linear regression (p=0.015). Logistic regression analysis revealed that crude odds ratios of triple-vessel disease and high Gensini score were 2.47 (95% CI: 1.66–3.67) and 1.83 (95% CI: 1.50–3.49), respectively, in the first quartile of PA compared with the fourth quartile and the results remained significant for high Gensini score after adjustment for confounding factors. In addition, estimated glomerular filtration rate, liver function, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) had no interactive relationships in the above associations. Patients with lower levels of albumin or higher levels of hs-CRP or the ratio of hs-CRP to PA (hs-CRP/PA) also had more severe coronary atherosclerosis.

Conclusions

PA is negatively and independently associated with angiographic severity in patients with ACS, indicating for potential use in estimating the burden of coronary atherosclerosis.

Predictive value of the C-reactive protein-to-prealbumin ratio in medical ICU patients

AIM

This prospective study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the ratio of C-reactive protein-to-prealbumin (CRP/PAB) and clinical outcomes in medical intensive care unit patients.

MATERIALS & METHODS

All 240 consecutive adult patients were enrolled in this study with demographic and clinical features collected.

RESULTS

Compared with patients belonging to the CRP/PAB ≤0.24 group, hospital mortality and the total length of stay in hospital (TLSH) were significantly increased in patients in the CRP/PAB >0.24 group. CRP/PAB and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score score were independently correlated with hospital mortality while CRP/PAB and age were independently associated with TLSH.

CONCLUSION

CRP/PAB were independently correlated with hospital mortality and TLSH in medical intensive care unit.

Colonization of Klebsiella pneumoniae inside fistula tracts: a possible risk factor for failure of fibrin glue-assisted closure

GOALS

This study was designed to investigate the risk factors affecting glue-assisted closure (GAC) in the enterocutaneous fistula (ECF) patients receiving glue application.

BACKGROUND

ECF is a challenging problem in surgical practice, and it is difficult to resolve by spontaneous closure. Currently, GAC is popular when treating fistulas, but data related to risk factors are limited.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 82 patients with 93 ECFs, who had autologous glue sealing from 2010 to 2012 in a referral center. Their demographic data, clinical records, and fistula characteristics were collected. Both univariate analysis and multivariate Cox proportional hazards model were used to determine the prognostic factors affecting closure.

RESULTS

During the 14-day treatment period, 78.5% (73/93) of the fistulas achieved GAC. We excluded 3 reopened fistulas and investigated 90 ECFs from 79 patients. Univariate analysis demonstrated that patients with high levels of CRP, high CRP:prealbumin ratio, elevated blood glucose, and specific pathogen colonization, together with lower GI location, greater output volume, and shorter tract length, had a poor outcome (P<0.05). Using multivariate analysis, monomicrobial and polymicrobial colonization with Klebsiella pneumoniae inside the fistula tracts (hazard ratio, 0.191; 95% confidence interval, 0.045-0.810; P=0.025) was a statistically significant risk factor for failure of fistula closure.

CONCLUSIONS

The presence of monomicrobial and polymicrobial colonization with K. pneumoniae in fistulous tracts was an independent risk factor for failure of GAC in patients receiving glue application. Better debridement of the tracts should be performed before the glue sealing.

Nutritional management of enterocutaneous fistula: a retrospective study at a Malaysian university medical center

Enterocutaneous fistula is a challenging clinical condition with serious complications and considerable morbidity and mortality. Early nutritional support has been found to decrease these complications and to improve the clinical outcome. Location of the fistula and physiological status affect the nutrition management plan in terms of feeding route, calories, and protein requirements. This study investigated the nutritional management procedures at the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Center, and attempted to determine factors that affect the clinical outcome. Nutritional management was evaluated retrospectively in 22 patients with enterocutaneous fistula seen over a 5-year period. Medical records were reviewed to obtain data on nutritional status, biochemical indices, and route and tolerance of feeding. Calories and protein requirements are reported and categorized. The results show that surgery was the predominant etiology and low output fistula was the major physiological category; anatomically, the majority were ileocutaneous. The spontaneous healing rate was 14%, the total healing rate was 45%, and the mortality rate was 22%, with 14% due to fistula-associated complications. There was a significant relationship between body mass index/serum albumin levels and fistula healing; these parameters also had a significant relationship with mortality. Glutamine was used in 50% of cases; however, there was no significant relationship with fistula healing or mortality rate. The nutritional status of the patient has an important impact on the clinical outcome. Conservative management that includes nutrition support is very important in order to improve nutritional status before surgical repair of the fistula.

New advances in the use of serum prealbumin as an index of liver function

Serum prealbumin, mainly synthesized in the liver, can be used to assess the function of liver protein synthesis, reserve and nutritional status with many advantages such as convenience, accuracy and fewer interference factors; however, it is clinically used often as an independent factor, and there is little systematic, relevant and prospective research on it. Although serum prealbumin test has been used for a long time, many clinicians do not attach great importance to the characteristics of changes in serum prealbumin. In this paper, we will review new characteristics of biochemistry structure and function of serum prealbumin, and relevance between serum prealbumin and serum albumin, cholesterol, cholinesterase, total bile acids, prothrombin time, Child-Turcotte-Pugh, and model of end-stage liver stage.

Patients aged 80 years and older accrue similar benefits from total parenteral nutrition compared to middle-aged patients

Age is becoming less of a consideration to aggressive medical and surgical interventions. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether patients older than 80 years showed similar gains from total parenteral nutrition (TPN) in terms of nutritional and inflammatory markers compared to patients 35 to 50 years old. A database of patients aged ≥80 years old (group 1) and patients between 35 and 50 (group 2), on TPN for greater than 1 week, was compiled from the Nutrition Support Service (NSS) database. Patients had C-reactive protein (CRP), prealbumin, and albumin drawn twice weekly. Patients were matched 1:1 based on gender, diabetes, smoking, Subjective Global Assessment score, and diagnosis. Both groups showed comparable improvements in nutritional and inflammatory markers. There were no statistically significant differences in weekly changes to prealbumin, albumin, CRP, and CRP:prealbumin (C:P) ratio between group 1 and group 2 patients. Both groups had similar complication rates (line-related thrombosis, catheter-related bloodstream infections, intra-abdominal sepsis), days on TPN, length of hospitalization, and mortality rate. Patients older than 80 years benefit from aggressive nutritional support by administration of TPN. Age should not be used as an exclusion criterion for patients requiring TPN.