Diagnostic Efficacy of Serum Amyloid A Protein and Soluble Intercellular Adhesion Molecule 1 in Pediatric

Hamdy H Abo-Hagar1, Ahmed Abd ElBasset Abo-Elezz1, Mostafa Mehrez1

  • 11 Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Pediatric Department, Tanta University, Gharbia Governorate, Tanta, Egypt.

Insights

Serum amyloid A (SAA) and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (sICAM-1) show promise for early detection of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in children. These biomarkers, especially when combined with the clinical pulmonary infection score (CPIS), can also predict patient survival.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric critical care medicine
  • Infectious disease diagnostics
  • Biomarker research

Background:

  • Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a significant complication in pediatric intensive care.
  • Early and accurate diagnosis of VAP is crucial for timely treatment and improved patient outcomes.
  • Current diagnostic methods may have limitations in sensitivity and specificity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the utility of serum amyloid A (SAA) protein, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (sICAM-1), and C-reactive protein (CRP) as early detection markers for VAP in children.
  • To assess the predictive value of these biomarkers for VAP outcomes, including mortality.
  • To compare the diagnostic performance of these biomarkers with the modified clinical pulmonary infection score (CPIS).

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 35 children requiring mechanical ventilation for over 48 hours (excluding pneumonia) was studied.
  • Serum levels of SAA, sICAM-1, and CRP were measured at the start and on day 3 of mechanical ventilation.
  • Endotracheal aspirate cultures and modified CPIS were performed concurrently.

Main Results:

  • VAP was diagnosed in 6 (17.1%) patients using CPIS.
  • Significant increases in serum SAA, sICAM-1, and CRP levels were observed by day 3 of mechanical ventilation in VAP patients.
  • SAA and sICAM-1 demonstrated 100% sensitivity for VAP prediction; combining SAA with CPIS achieved 100% specificity.
  • SAA and sICAM-1 also showed high sensitivity (100%) for predicting non-survival in VAP patients.

Conclusions:

  • Serum SAA and sICAM-1 are reliable biomarkers for the early detection of VAP in children.
  • Combining serum SAA with CPIS enhances diagnostic specificity for VAP to 100%.
  • Serum SAA measurement is a valuable tool for predicting non-survival in pediatric VAP cases.
Abstract