Soluble haemoglobin scavenger receptor (sCD163) in patients with suspected community-acquired infections

The aim of our study was to evaluate soluble haemoglobin scavenger receptor (sCD163) as a molecular marker in patients with community-acquired infections. One hundred and ninety-four adult patients admitted to the Department of Internal Medicine, Odense University Hospital, with suspected community-acquired infection were included in a prospective study. Plasma and serum were sampled from all patients on day of admission and sCD163 and interleukin-6 levels were measured. Demographic data, co-morbidity, microbiological aetiology, biochemical parameters, focus of infection, severity score and mortality on day 28 were recorded. Median age was 68 (range 18-92) years. Mortality rate among infected patients on day 28 was 3.8%. sCD163 concentrations (median and range) were: 2.99 mg/l (1.22-12.65) in non-infected patients, 3.62 mg/l (1.59-74.04) (p=0.08) in infected patients without systemic inflammatory response syndrome, 3.2 mg/l (0.54-22.51) (p=0.4) in patients with sepsis, 3.63 mg/l (1.71-28.4) (p=0.01) in patients with severe sepsis, and 4.9 mg/l (2.66-28.4) (p=0.003) in patients with bacteraemia. In this cohort dominated by mild infections, a moderate elevation of sCD163 was observed only in patients with severe sepsis and/or bacteraemia. sCD163 did not discriminate between infected and non-infected patients.