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Louka M, Tatsi EB, Vassiliu S, Theoharis G, Straka K, Filippatos F, Dourdouna MM, Siahanidou T, Syriopoulou V, Michos A. The Soluble Urokinase Plasminogen Activator Receptor as a Severity Biomarker in Children With Acute COVID-19 or Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2024; 43:477-482. [PMID: 38251905 DOI: 10.1097/inf.0000000000004244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Elevated soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) has been associated with a poor prognosis in serious infections. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical value of suPAR in children with acute coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) or multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C). METHODS Serum suPAR was measured using the suPARnostic AUTO Flex enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in hospitalized children with COVID-19, MIS-C, bacterial pneumonia, and healthy controls. RESULTS A total of 211 children with a mean (±SD) age of 6.9 ± 4.96 years were tested; with COVID-19: 59 (28%), MIS-C: 36 (17%), pneumonia: 78 (37%) and healthy controls: 38 (18%). In the acute phase, the levels of suPAR (mean ± SD) were: MIS-C: 8.11 ± 2.80 ng/mL, COVID-19: 4.91 ± 1.90 ng/mL, pneumonia: 4.25 ± 1.44 ng/mL and controls: 2.09 ± 0.47 ng/mL ( P < 0.001). Children with acute COVID-19 and a severe or moderate clinical presentation had higher values than those with mild symptoms: 5.79 ± 1.58 versus 5.40 ± 1.94 versus 3.19 ± 0.73 ng/mL, respectively ( P < 0.001). In the MIS-C group, children hospitalized in the intensive care unit and in need of mechanical ventilation had higher suPAR than those who were not admitted to an intensive care unit: 9.32 ± 3.06 versus 7.13 ± 2.19 ng/mL, respectively ( P = 0.023). In children with COVID-19 or MIS-C, a correlation was detected between suPAR values and length of hospitalization ( rs = 0.418, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS The findings suggest that suPAR may be a valuable biomarker of disease severity in children with COVID-19 or MIS-C. This could facilitate the identification of children in need of intensive anti-inflammatory treatment, as it has been shown in adults with severe COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalini Louka
- From the First Department of Pediatrics, Infectious Diseases and Chemotherapy Research Laboratory, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Athens Greece
| | - Elizabeth Barbara Tatsi
- From the First Department of Pediatrics, Infectious Diseases and Chemotherapy Research Laboratory, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Athens Greece
- University Research Institute of Maternal and Child Health and Precision Medicine, Athens, Greece
| | - Sofia Vassiliu
- From the First Department of Pediatrics, Infectious Diseases and Chemotherapy Research Laboratory, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Athens Greece
| | - George Theoharis
- From the First Department of Pediatrics, Infectious Diseases and Chemotherapy Research Laboratory, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Athens Greece
| | - Kalliopi Straka
- Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Filippos Filippatos
- From the First Department of Pediatrics, Infectious Diseases and Chemotherapy Research Laboratory, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Athens Greece
| | - Maria Myrto Dourdouna
- From the First Department of Pediatrics, Infectious Diseases and Chemotherapy Research Laboratory, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Athens Greece
| | - Tania Siahanidou
- Neonatal Unit, First Department of Pediatrics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Vasiliki Syriopoulou
- From the First Department of Pediatrics, Infectious Diseases and Chemotherapy Research Laboratory, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Athens Greece
| | - Athanasios Michos
- From the First Department of Pediatrics, Infectious Diseases and Chemotherapy Research Laboratory, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Athens Greece
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İşsever K, Dheir H. The Relationship Between Soluble Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator Receptor (suPAR) Levels and Treatment Response in Patients With Glomerulonephritis: A Single-Center Experience. Cureus 2023; 15:e47473. [PMID: 38021795 PMCID: PMC10662779 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.47473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Aim Soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) is an important protein that is reported to increase in a broad range of inflammatory processes. We aimed to determine whether suPAR is a significant biomarker in glomerulonephritis for distinguishing patients with treatment response from patients without treatment response in our study. Materials and methods This was a prospective study in which 117 patients with biopsy-proven glomerulonephritis and 54 healthy individuals without a known chronic disease (control group) were enrolled. A total of 117 patients were divided into two groups: "treatment responsive" and "treatment nonresponsive." Blood samples were collected from the patients upon their outpatient clinic visits, and the demographical and lab parameters were compared between the groups. Results For the patient group consisting of 117 individuals, 56.4% were male, the mean age was 49.6 years, and the mean follow-up duration was 32.2 months. The most commonly diagnosed glomerular disease was focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), followed by IgA nephropathy and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, respectively. While suPAR levels were significantly higher in the patient group (166.06 ± 127.66 vs. 119.67 ± 70.53 pg/ml, p = 0.001) (suPAR level ± standard deviation), no significant relationship was found between suPAR levels, treatment response status, and disease severity. Besides, there was no significant relationship between suPAR levels and proteinuria levels, BMI of the patients, and the type of immunosuppressive agent used in the treatment and BMI. Conclusion Our study showed that suPAR levels could distinguish a patient with glomerulonephritis from a healthy individual, whereas it has no value in predicting the disease progression and treatment responsiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kubilay İşsever
- Internal Medicine, Giresun University Faculty of Medicine, Giresun, TUR
| | - Hamad Dheir
- Nephrology, Sakarya University Faculty of Medicine, Sakarya, TUR
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