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Published on: August 13, 2013
Alterations in biochemical markers in adenovirus infection
Constanza Gómez de Oña1, Marta E Alvarez-Argüelles1, Susana Rojo-Alba1
1Microbiology Department, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, Spain.
Insights
Human adenovirus (HAdV) infection in children is strongly linked to elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) inflammatory markers. These findings are crucial for managing pediatric patients with HAdV.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Clinical Virology
- Inflammatory Marker Analysis
Background:
- Human adenovirus (HAdV) is a common cause of respiratory illness in children.
- Inflammatory markers like C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) are used to assess infection severity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between HAdV infection and specific inflammatory markers (CRP, PCT) and hematological profiles in children.
- To evaluate the diagnostic utility of CRP and PCT in HAdV-infected pediatric patients.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 487 children with fever or acute respiratory symptoms.
- Detection of HAdV and other respiratory viruses in respiratory samples.
- Measurement of plasma CRP and PCT levels and whole blood hematological markers.
Main Results:
- HAdV was detected in 26.1% of cases; 88.1% showed elevated CRP and 52% showed elevated PCT.
- Hematological markers were largely similar between HAdV-positive and negative groups, though leukocytosis was noted in 66% of HAdV cases.
- Altered PCT was observed in 60% of HAdV infections, compared to 18.7% in bacterial infections and 26.5% in uninfected cases.
Conclusions:
- A significant association exists between HAdV infection and elevated CRP and PCT levels in children.
- CRP and PCT alterations are important considerations in the clinical management of pediatric HAdV infections.
Background:
Analyze possible relationships between HAdV and markers for inflammation, specifically the C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) tests, along with other haematological markers.
Methods:
Retrospective study of 487 children presenting with fever and/or acute respiratory symptoms in the Paediatric Emergency Department. Analyses included viral presence/absence (both HAdV and other respiratory viruses) in respiratory exudates, CRP and PCT alterations in plasma, and haematological markers in whole blood.
Results:
Viral load was >500 copies/103 cells of HAdV in 127 cases (26.1%), of which 66 (52%, P<0.0001) had alterations in PCT, and 112 (88.1%, P<0.0001) in CRP. Haematological markers were similar either HAdV was present or not, although many HAdV positive patients demonstrated leukocytosis (66%). Bacterial cultures from 141 samples showed altered PCT in 27 (60%) with HAdV infection, in 3 (18.7%) with bacterial infection, and 13 (26.5%) without either viral or bacterial infection (P<0.05). CRP was altered in 88.9% of HAdV infected children and in 87% infected with bacteria, although the percentage was greater than in cases where other respiratory viruses were present (61.3% P<0.05).
Conclusions:
Results demonstrate a clear relationship between HAdV infection and alterations in PCT and CRP which should be taken into account in paediatric patient management.
