Visfatin Serum Levels Predict Mortality in Critically Ill Patients

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Immunology
• Critical Care Medicine

Background:

• Visfatin (pre-B-cell colony-enhancing factor, PBEF) is an adipokine involved in innate immunity.
• Its role as a biomarker in critical illness remains to be fully elucidated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate serum visfatin levels as a potential biomarker in critically ill patients.
• To assess the association of visfatin with disease severity, organ failure, and patient outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Serum visfatin levels were measured in 229 critically ill ICU patients and 53 healthy controls.
• Visfatin concentrations were correlated with clinical data, severity scores, organ failure markers, and other adipokines.

Main Results:

• Visfatin levels were significantly higher in ICU patients, particularly those with sepsis, compared to controls.
• Elevated visfatin correlated strongly with disease severity, organ failure, and increased ICU and long-term mortality.
• Visfatin levels did not differ based on obesity or type 2 diabetes status but correlated with markers of renal and liver dysfunction.

Conclusions:

• Circulating visfatin is a valuable biomarker for risk and prognosis assessment in critically ill patients.
• Visfatin may play a role in systemic inflammation during critical illness, warranting further investigation as a therapeutic target.