The diagnostic accuracy of mid-regional pro-adrenomedullin for sepsis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Examining the relationship between alterations in plasma cholesterol, vascular endothelin-1 levels, and the severity of sepsis in children: An observational study

Considering the significant impact of total cholesterol (TC) and vascular endothelin-1 (ET-1) on children sepsis outcomes, this research aimed to explore the association between the levels of plasma cholesterol and vascular endothelin-1 and the severity of sepsis and evaluated its clinical implications. In this study, we examined 250 pediatric patients diagnosed with sepsis between February 2019 and April 2021, collecting data on their plasma levels of TC and ET-1. Depending on the observed outcomes, the participants were divided into 2 categories: a group with a positive prognosis (control group, n = 100) and a group with a negative prognosis (n = 50). We assessed the significance of plasma TC and ET-1 levels in forecasting the outcomes for these pediatric patients. Patients in the group with a poor prognosis experienced notably longer hospital stays and higher treatment expenses than those in the control group (P < .05). Within the first 24 hours of admission and again on days 3 and 7, the levels of ET-1 were significantly higher in the poor prognosis group, whereas plasma TC levels were notably lower in comparison to the control group (P < .05). A Spearman correlation analysis identified a significant correlation between the levels of plasma TC and ET-1 and the severity of sepsis among the children (P < .05). The diagnostic performance for the severity of sepsis in children, as measured by the area under the curve (AUC), was 0.805 for plasma TC, 0.777 for ET-1 levels, and 0.938 when both were combined. This investigation underscores a meaningful relationship between the levels of plasma TC and ET-1 in pediatric sepsis patients, suggesting these biomarkers are highly valuable in predicting patient outcomes. High levels of ET-1 and low levels of TC in these patients signify a grave condition and a poor prognosis.

Navigating the Modern Landscape of Sepsis: Advances in Diagnosis and Treatment

Sepsis poses a significant threat to human health due to its high morbidity and mortality rates worldwide. Traditional diagnostic methods for identifying sepsis or its causative organisms are time-consuming and contribute to a high mortality rate. Biomarkers have been developed to overcome these limitations and are currently used for sepsis diagnosis, prognosis prediction, and treatment response assessment. Over the past few decades, more than 250 biomarkers have been identified, a few of which have been used in clinical decision-making. Consistent with the limitations of diagnosing sepsis, there is currently no specific treatment for sepsis. Currently, the general treatment for sepsis is conservative and includes timely antibiotic use and hemodynamic support. When planning sepsis-specific treatment, it is important to select the most suitable patient, considering the heterogeneous nature of sepsis. This comprehensive review summarizes current and evolving biomarkers and therapeutic approaches for sepsis.

Latest developments in early diagnosis and specific treatment of severe influenza infection

Influenza pandemics are unpredictable recurrent events with global health, economic, and social consequences. The objective of this review is to provide an update on the latest developments in early diagnosis and specific treatment of the disease and its complications, particularly with regard to respiratory organ failure. Despite advances in treatment, the rate of mortality in the intensive care unit remains approximately 30%. Therefore, early identification of potentially severe viral pneumonia is extremely important to optimize treatment in these patients. The pathogenesis of influenza virus infection depends on viral virulence and host response. Thus, in some patients, it is associated with an excessive systemic response mediated by an authentic cytokine storm. This process leads to severe primary pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Initial prognostication in the emergency department based on comorbidities, vital signs, and biomarkers (e.g., procalcitonin, ferritin, human leukocyte antigen-DR, mid-regional proadrenomedullin, and lactate) is important. Identification of these biomarkers on admission may facilitate clinical decision-making to determine early admission to the hospital or the intensive care unit. These decisions are reached considering pathophysiological circumstances that are associated with a poor prognosis (e.g., bacterial co-infection, hyperinflammation, immune paralysis, severe endothelial damage, organ dysfunction, and septic shock). Moreover, early implementation is important to increase treatment efficacy. Based on a limited level of evidence, all current guidelines recommend using oseltamivir in this setting. The possibility of drug resistance should also be considered. Alternative options include other antiviral drugs and combination therapies with monoclonal antibodies. Importantly, it is not recommended to use corticosteroids in the initial treatment of these patients. Furthermore, the implementation of supportive measures for respiratory failure is essential. Current recommendations are limited, heterogeneous, and not regularly updated. Early intubation and mechanical ventilation is the basic treatment for patients with severe respiratory failure. Prone ventilation should be promptly performed in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome, while early tracheostomy should be considered in case of planned prolonged mechanical ventilation. Clinical trials on antiviral treatment and respiratory support measures specifically for these patients, as well as specific recommendations for different at-risk populations, are necessary to improve outcomes.

PAMPs and DAMPs in Sepsis: A Review of Their Molecular Features and Potential Clinical Implications

Sepsis is a serious organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated immune host reaction to a pathogen. The innate immunity is programmed to react immediately to conserved molecules, released by the pathogens (PAMPs), and the host (DAMPs). We aimed to review the molecular mechanisms of the early phases of sepsis, focusing on PAMPs, DAMPs, and their related pathways, to identify potential biomarkers. We included studies published in English and searched on PubMed® and Cochrane®. After a detailed discussion on the actual knowledge of PAMPs/DAMPs, we analyzed their role in the different organs affected by sepsis, trying to elucidate the molecular basis of some of the most-used prognostic scores for sepsis. Furthermore, we described a chronological trend for the release of PAMPs/DAMPs that may be useful to identify different subsets of septic patients, who may benefit from targeted therapies. These findings are preliminary since these pathways seem to be strongly influenced by the peculiar characteristics of different pathogens and host features. Due to these reasons, while initial findings are promising, additional studies are necessary to clarify the potential involvement of these molecular patterns in the natural evolution of sepsis and to facilitate their transition into the clinical setting.

Mid-Regional Pro-Adrenomedullin Can Predict Organ Failure and Prognosis in Sepsis?

Sepsis causes immune dysregulation and endotheliitis, with an increase in mid-regional pro-adrenomedullin (MR-proADM). The aim of the study is to determine an MR-proADM value that, in addition to clinical diagnosis, can identify patients with localized infection or those with sepsis/septic shock, with specific organ damage or with the need for intensive care unit (ICU) transfer and prognosis. The secondary aim is to correlate the MR-proADM value with the length of stay (LOS). In total, 301 subjects with sepsis (124/301 with septic shock) and 126 with localized infection were retrospectively included. In sepsis, MR-proADM ≥ 3.39 ng/mL identified acute kidney injury (AKI); ≥2.99 ng/mL acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS); ≥2.28 ng/mL acute heart failure (AHF); ≥2.55 ng/mL Glascow Coma Scale (GCS) < 15; ≥3.38 multi-organ involvement; ≥3.33 need for ICU transfer; ≥2.0 Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score ≥ 2; and ≥3.15 ng/mL non-survivors. The multivariate analysis showed that MR-proADM ≥ 2 ng/mL correlates with AKI, anemia and SOFA score ≥ 2, and MR-proADM ≥ 3 ng/mL correlates with AKI, GCS < 15 and SOFA score ≥ 2. A correlation between mortality and AKI, GCS < 15, ICU transfer and cathecolamine administration was found. In localized infection, MR-proADM at admission ≥ 1.44 ng/mL identified patients with AKI; ≥1.0 ng/mL with AHF; and ≥1.44 ng/mL with anemia and SOFA score ≥ 2. In the multivariate analysis, MR-proADM ≥ 1.44 ng/mL correlated with AKI, anemia, SOFA score ≥ 2 and AHF. MR-proADM is a marker of oxidative stress due to an infection, reflecting severity proportionally to organ damage.

Comprehensive Assessment of Mid-Regional Proadrenomedullin, Procalcitonin, Neuron-Specific Enolase and Protein S100 for Predicting Pediatric Severe Trauma Outcomes

The development of multiple organ failure and septic complications increases the cumulative risk of mortality in children with severe injury. Clinically available biochemical markers have shown promise in assessing the severity and predicting the development of complications and outcomes in such cases. This study aimed to determine informative criteria for assessing the severity and outcome prediction of severe injury in children based on levels of mid-regional proadrenomedullin (MR-proADM) procalcitonin (PCT), neuron-specific enolase (NSE), and protein S100. Biomarker levels were measured in 52 children with severe injury (ISS ≥ 16) on the 1st, 3rd, 7th, and 14th days after admission to the ICU. The children were divided into groups based on their favorable (n = 44) or unfavorable (n = 8) outcomes according to the Severe Injury Outcome Scale, as well as their favorable (n = 35) or unfavorable (n = 15) outcomes according to the Glasgow Coma Outcome Scale (GOS). The study also evaluated the significance of biomarker levels in predicting septic complications (with SC (n = 16) and without SC (n = 36)) and diagnosing and stratifying multiple organ failure (with MOF (n = 8) and without MOF (n = 44)). A comprehensive assessment of MR-proADM and PCT provided the highest diagnostic and prognostic efficacy for early diagnosis, risk stratification of multiple organ failure, and outcome prediction in severe injury cases involving children. Additionally, the inclusion of the S100 protein in the study allowed for further assessment of brain damage in cases of traumatic brain injury (TBI), contributing to the overall prognostic model.

The role of proadrenomedullin, interleukin 6 and CD64 in the diagnosis and prognosis of septic shock

INTRODUCTION

Sepsis and septic shock are disorders of tissue perfusion and microcirculation associated with increased mortality. The role of biomarkers such as proadrenomedullin (PRO-ADM), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and neutrophil CD64 (CD64) in the diagnosis and prognosis of septic shock has been studied.

METHODS

GCS, SOFA score, APACHE 2 score, lactate, CRP, procalcitonin, PRO-ADM, IL-6, CD64 level and 28-day mortality were evaluated in patients with septic shock followed-up in the intensive care unit of Marmara University Hospital between July 2021 and December 2021. The study was planned as prospective, non-drug clinical research Committee.

RESULTS

There were no statistically significant differences between patient groups in gender, BMI, and presence of comorbidities (p > 0.05). The alive patient group had significantly higher GCS values and lower SOFA, APACHE 2, lactate and CD64 values than the dead patient group (p < 0.01). The cut-off values of laboratory parameters were determined using ROC analysis to predict mortality, SOFA and CD64 had high AUC. This is also a good indicator for mortality.The multivariate logistic regression model was estimated using the backward selection method. The mortality of ICU patients was predicted by a SOFA-value ≥ 12 (OR (95%CI) = 56.13 (5.44-578.64)), CD64 value ≥ 28.54 (OR (95% CI) = 23.78 (2.61-216.85)), and ADM-value ≥ 86.79 (OR (95% CI) = 15.86 (1.02-246.49)) (p < 0.05) .

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, serum CD64 level, PRO-ADM level, and SOFA score proved to be effective parameters for predicting prognosis and mortality in septic shock. However, IL-6 proved to be a weak biomarker and failed to predict mortality. CD64, which is easier and more practical to use, can be used instead of the SOFA score.

Circulating mid-regional proadrenomedullin is a predictor of mortality in patients with COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Although there is increasing understanding of the changes in the laboratory parameters of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the correlation between circulating Mid-regional Proadrenomedullin (MR-proADM) and mortality of patients with COVID-19 is not fully understood. In this study, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the prognostic value of MR-proADM in patients with COVID-19.

METHODS

The PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Wanfang, SinoMed and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases were searched from 1 January 2020 to 20 March 2022 for relevant literature. The Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS-2) was used to assess quality bias, STATA was employed to pool the effect size by a random effects model, and potential publication bias and sensitivity analyses were performed.

RESULTS

14 studies comprising 1822 patients with COVID-19 met the inclusion criteria, there were 1145 (62.8%) males and 677 (31.2%) females, and the mean age was 63.8 ± 16.1 years. The concentration of MR-proADM was compared between the survivors and non-survivors in 9 studies and the difference was significant (P < 0.01), I² = 46%. The combined sensitivity was 0.86 [0.73-0.92], and the combined specificity was 0.78 [0.68-0.86]. We drew the summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curve and calculated the area under curve (AUC) = 0.90 [0.87-0.92]. An increase of 1 nmol/L of MR-proADM was independently associated with a more than threefold increase in mortality (odds ratio (OR) 3.03, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.26-4.06, I² = 0.0%, P = 0.633). The predictive value of MR-proADM for mortality was better than many other biomarkers.

CONCLUSION

MR-proADM had a very good predictive value for the poor prognosis of COVID-19 patients. Increased levels of MR-proADM were independently associated with mortality in COVID-19 patients and may allow a better risk stratification.

Host Response Biomarkers for Sepsis in the Emergency Room

This article is one of ten reviews selected from the Annual Update in Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine 2023. Other selected articles can be found online at https://www.biomedcentral.com/collections/annualupdate2023 . Further information about the Annual Update in Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine is available from https://link.springer.com/bookseries/8901 .

Effectiveness of mid-regional pro-adrenomedullin, compared to other biomarkers (including lymphocyte subpopulations and immunoglobulins), as a prognostic biomarker in COVID-19 critically ill patients: New evidence from a 15-month observational prospective study

Background

Mid-regional pro-adrenomedullin (MR-proADM), an endothelium-related peptide, is a predictor of death and multi-organ failure in respiratory infections and sepsis and seems to be effective in identifying COVID-19 severe forms. The study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of MR-proADM in comparison to routine inflammatory biomarkers, lymphocyte subpopulations, and immunoglobulin (Ig) at an intensive care unit (ICU) admission and over time in predicting mortality in patients with severe COVID-19.

Methods

All adult patients with COVID-19 pneumonia admitted between March 2020 and June 2021 in the ICUs of a university hospital in Italy were enrolled. MR-proADM, lymphocyte subpopulations, Ig, and routine laboratory tests were measured within 48 h and on days 3 and 7. The log-rank test was used to compare survival curves with MR-proADM cutoff value of >1.5 nmol/L. Predictive ability was compared using the area under the curve (AUC) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of different receiver-operating characteristic curves.

Results

A total of 209 patients, with high clinical severity [SOFA 7, IQR 4-9; SAPS II 52, IQR 41-59; median viral pneumonia mortality score (MuLBSTA)-11, IQR 9-13] were enrolled. ICU and overall mortality were 55.5 and 60.8%, respectively. Procalcitonin, lactate dehydrogenase, D-dimer, the N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide, myoglobin, troponin, neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, and natural killer lymphocyte count were significantly different between survivors and non-survivors, while lymphocyte subpopulations and Ig were not different in the two groups. MR-proADM was significantly higher in non-survivors (1.17 ± 0.73 vs. 2.31 ± 2.63, p < 0.0001). A value of >1.5 nmol/L was an independent risk factor for mortality at day 28 [odds ratio of 1.9 (95% CI: 1.220-3.060)] after adjusting for age, lactate at admission, SOFA, MuLBSTA, superinfections, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory disease. On days 3 and 7 of the ICU stay, the MR-proADM trend evaluated within 48 h of admission maintained a correlation with mortality (p < 0.0001). Compared to all other biomarkers considered, the MR-proADM value within 48 h had the best accuracy in predicting mortality at day 28 [AUC = 0.695 (95% CI: 0.624-0.759)].

Conclusion

MR-proADM seems to be the best biomarker for the stratification of mortality risk in critically ill patients with COVID-19. The Ig levels and lymphocyte subpopulations (except for natural killers) seem not to be correlated with mortality. Larger, multicentric studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Mid-Regional Pro-Adrenomedullin as a Prognostic Factor for Severe COVID-19 ARDS

Mid-regional proadrenomedullin (MR-proADM) protects against endothelial permeability and has been associated with prognosis in bacterial sepsis. As endothelial dysfunction is central in the pathophysiology of severe SARS-CoV-2 infection, we sought to evaluate MR-proADM both as a prognostic biomarker and as a marker of bacterial superinfection. Consecutive patients admitted to the ICU for severe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia were prospectively included and serum was bio-banked on days 1, 3, and 7. MR-proADM levels were measured blindly from clinical outcomes in batches at the end of follow-up. Among the 135 patients included between April 2020 and May 2021, 46 (34.1%) had died at day 60. MR-proADM levels on days 1, 3, and 7 were significantly higher in day-60 non-survivors. The area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (0.744, p < 0.001) of day-1 MR-proADM compared favorably with the AUC ROC curve of day-1 procalcitonin (0.691, p < 0.001). Serial MR-proADM measurements on days 3 and 7 may add prognostic information. After adjusting for CRP, LDH, and lymphocyte values, day-1 MR-proADM remained significantly associated with day-60 mortality. MR-proADM concentrations were significantly higher in patients with respiratory superinfections (on days 3 and 7) and bloodstream infections (on days 1, 3, and 7) than in patients without infection. Our results suggest that MR-proADM is a good predictor of outcome in severe SARS-CoV-2 infection and could be a useful tool to assess bacterial superinfection in COVID-19 patients.

Diagnostic value of mid-regional pro-Adrenomedullin as a biomarker of invasive bacterial infection in children: a systematic review

Background

Invasive bacterial infections (IBI) in children present a difficult clinical challenge. They are often life-threatening, however in the early stages they can be hard to differentiate from benign viral infections. This leaves clinicians with the risk of missing a serious IBI diagnosis or inappropriately using antimicrobials in a child with a viral infection- contributing to the ongoing development of increased antimicrobial resistance. Hence, biomarkers which could aid in early detection of IBI and differentiation from viral infections are desirable. Mid-Regional pro-Adrenomedullin (MR-proADM) is a biomarker which has been associated with IBI. The aim of this systematic review was to determine its diagnostic accuracy in identifying children with IBI.

Methods

A strategy was devised to search online databases MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science and Scopus for human clinical trials reporting the accuracy of MR-proADM in children. Against predesigned inclusion and exclusion criteria full texts were selected for inclusion and data extraction. True positives, false positives, true negatives and false negatives were extracted from each included study to fill 2 × 2 tables. Using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS-2) tool methodological quality of each study was assessed.

Results

A total of 501 articles were initially identified. After the removal of duplicates and abstract screening 11 texts were fully reviewed and four texts (totaling 1404 patients) were included in the systematic analysis. Only one study was of a high quality and that study accounted for the vast majority of patients. A single study reported the diagnostic accuracy of MR-proADM for invasive bacterial infection reporting an Area under the Curve of 0.69. The paucity of available studies made meta-analysis and studies of heterogeneity impossible.

Conclusion

There is a paucity of research regarding the diagnostic accuracy of MR-proADM in the diagnosis of invasive bacterial infections in children. Initial results would suggest that MR-proADM testing alone is poor at identifying IBI in young children. It remains unclear if MR-proADM performs differently in older children or in children with signs and symptoms of IBI.

Trial registration

PROSPERO CRD42018096295.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12887-022-03255-9.

Adrenomedullin Therapy in Moderate to Severe COVID-19

The 2019 coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is still in progress, and a significant number of patients have presented with severe illness. Recently introduced vaccines, antiviral medicines, and antibody formulations can suppress COVID-19 symptoms and decrease the number of patients exhibiting severe disease. However, complete avoidance of severe COVID-19 has not been achieved, and more importantly, there are insufficient methods to treat it. Adrenomedullin (AM) is an endogenous peptide that maintains vascular tone and endothelial barrier function. The AM plasma level is markedly increased during severe inflammatory disorders, such as sepsis, pneumonia, and COVID-19, and is associated with the severity of inflammation and its prognosis. In this study, exogenous AM administration reduced inflammation and related organ damage in rodent models. The results of this study strongly suggest that AM could be an alternative therapy in severe inflammation disorders, including COVID-19. We have previously developed an AM formulation to treat inflammatory bowel disease and are currently conducting an investigator-initiated phase 2a trial for moderate to severe COVID-19 using the same formulation. This review presents the basal AM information and the most recent translational AM/COVID-19 study.

The Interplay between Host Defense, Infection, and Clinical Status in Septic Patients: A Narrative Review

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that arises when the body's response to an infection injures its own tissues and organs. Despite significant morbidity and mortality throughout the world, its pathogenesis and mechanisms are not clearly understood. In this narrative review, we aimed to summarize the recent developments in our understanding of the hallmarks of sepsis pathogenesis (immune and adaptive immune response, the complement system, the endothelial disfunction, and autophagy) and highlight novel laboratory diagnostic approaches. Clinical management is also discussed with pivotal consideration for antimicrobic therapy management in particular settings, such as intensive care unit, altered renal function, obesity, and burn patients.

Translational studies of adrenomedullin and related peptides regarding cardiovascular diseases

Adrenomedullin (AM) is a vasodilative peptide with various physiological functions, including the maintenance of vascular tone and endothelial barrier function. AM levels are markedly increased during severe inflammation, such as that associated with sepsis; thus, AM is expected to be a useful clinical marker and therapeutic agent for inflammation. However, as the increase in AM levels in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) is relatively low compared to that in infectious diseases, the value of AM as a marker of CVDs seems to be less important. Limitations pertaining to the administrative route and short half-life of AM in the bloodstream (<30 min) restrict the therapeutic applications of AM for CVDs. In early human studies, various applications of AM for CVDs were attempted, including for heart failure, myocardial infarction, pulmonary hypertension, and peripheral artery disease; however, none achieved success. We have developed AM as a therapeutic agent for inflammatory bowel disease in which the vasodilatory effect of AM is minimized. A clinical trial evaluating this AM formulation for acute cerebral infarction is ongoing. We have also developed AM derivatives that exhibit a longer half-life and less vasodilative activity. These AM derivatives can be administered by subcutaneous injection at long-term intervals. Accordingly, these derivatives will reduce the inconvenience in use compared to that for native AM and expand the possible applications of AM for treating CVDs. In this review, we present the latest translational status of AM and its derivatives.