Can endocan be a new biomarker in ventilator-associated pneumonia?

Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (VAP) is a hospital-acquired bacterial infection with high incidence and mortality rate. The aim of this study is to investigate the correlation between the Endocan level and development of VAP and whether or not this correlation was correlated with the clinical findings. Demographic data, white blood cell (WBC) count, procalcitonin (PCT), c-reactive protein (CRP), and fever levels of 60 patients were recorded in serial measurements for 5 days. When there was the presence of fever or elevated Endocan, alveolar lavage culture was taken and chest radiographies were taken. Correlations of the Endocan levels with the culture results and laboratory values were examined. The rate of VAP was found as 10.4/1000 mechanical ventilator days. Endocan levels were significantly higher in patients with VAP (p < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference among PCT, WBC, CRP measurements (p > 0.05). No correlation was found between Endocan levels and PCT, WBC and CRP levels in those with VAP (p > 0.05). A significant correlation was found between the Endocan level and the elevated fever 24 h later (p:0.001). The serum Endocan level on the day 3 had a specificity of 73.3%, a sensitivity of 68.9%, positive predictive value of 44%, and negative predictive value of 88.5% at the cut off level of 9.17 ng/mL. In this study, it was determined that high Endocan levels were associated with the development of VAP. The present study suggested that Endocan can be used as a screening tool for the development of VAP. CLINICAL TRIALS.GOV ID: NCT02916277.