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Use of biomarkers in pediatric sepsis: literature review
Vanessa Soares Lanziotti1,2, Pedro Póvoa3,4, Márcio Soares1
1Instituto D'Or de Pesquisa e Ensino - Rio de Janeiro (RJ), Brasil.
Insights
Pediatric sepsis, a major cause of child mortality, can be better managed using biomarkers. This review highlights key biomarkers like C-reactive protein and procalcitonin for improved diagnosis and treatment monitoring in children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Biomarker Research
- Critical Care Medicine
Background:
- Sepsis remains a significant cause of mortality and hospitalization in pediatric populations despite medical advancements.
- Effective management strategies for pediatric sepsis are crucial, necessitating reliable diagnostic and prognostic tools.
- Current research on sepsis biomarkers in children is limited, highlighting a need for further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current literature on biomarkers used in the management of pediatric sepsis.
- To emphasize the role of specific biomarkers in the early detection, risk stratification, and treatment monitoring of sepsis in children.
- To provide an overview of established and emerging biomarkers for pediatric sepsis.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on studies of biomarkers in pediatric sepsis.
- Emphasis on C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, interleukins (IL-6, IL-8, IL-18), human neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), and proadrenomedullin (proADM).
- Analysis of the utility of these biomarkers in screening, diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic monitoring.
Main Results:
- Biomarkers show potential in identifying infectious insults and guiding sepsis management in children.
- C-reactive protein and procalcitonin are commonly assessed, with emerging roles for interleukins, NGAL, and proADM.
- These biomarkers can aid in differentiating sepsis from other inflammatory conditions and assessing disease severity.
Conclusions:
- Biomarker assessment is valuable for the comprehensive management of pediatric sepsis.
- Further research is warranted to fully elucidate the diagnostic and prognostic capabilities of various biomarkers in pediatric sepsis.
- Optimized use of biomarkers can lead to more rational antibiotic use and improved patient outcomes.
Abstract:
Despite advances in recent years, sepsis is still a leading cause of hospitalization and mortality in infants and children. The presence of biomarkers during the response to an infectious insult makes it possible to use such biomarkers in screening, diagnosis, prognosis (risk stratification), monitoring of therapeutic response, and rational use of antibiotics (for example, the determination of adequate treatment length). Studies of biomarkers in sepsis in children are still relatively scarce. This review addresses the use of biomarkers in sepsis in pediatric patients with emphasis on C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, interleukins 6, 8, and 18, human neutrophil gelatinase, and proadrenomedullin. Assessment of these biomarkers may be useful in the management of pediatric sepsis.
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