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Elevated plasma levels of heparin-binding protein in intensive care unit patients with severe sepsis and septic shock
Critical Care, 05/25/2012
Clinical Article
Linder A et al. – Plasma heparin–binding protein (HBP) levels were significantly higher in patients with severe sepsis or septic shock compared to patients with non–septic illness in the intensive care unit (ICU). HBP was associated with severity of disease, and an elevated HBP at admission was associated with an increased risk of death. HBP that rises over time may identify patients with a deteriorating prognosis. Thus, repeated HBP measurement in the ICU may help monitor treatment and predict outcome in patients with severe infections.
Methods- A prospective study of two patient cohorts treated in the ICU at Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge in Sweden.
- 179 patients were included, of whom 151 had sepsis (126 with septic shock and 25 patients with severe sepsis) and 28 a non–septic critical condition.
- Blood samples were collected at five time points during six days after admission.
- HBP levels were significantly higher in the sepsis group as compared to the control group.
- At admission to the ICU, a plasma HBP concentration of [greater than or equal to]15ng/mL and/or a HBP(ng/mL) / White blood cell count (109/L) ratio of >2 was found in 87.2% and 50.0% of critically ill patients with sepsis and non–septic illness, respectively.
- A lactate level of >2.5mmol/L was detected in 64.9% and 56.0% of the same patient groups.
- Both in the sepsis group (n=151) and in the whole group (n=179), plasma HBP concentrations at admission and in the last measured sample within the 144hour study period were significantly higher among 28–day non–survivors as compared to survivors, and in the sepsis group, an elevated HBP–level at baseline was associated with an increased case–fatality rate at 28days.