Presepsin vs Procalcitonin as Predictors of Sepsis Outcome

Sepsis diagnosis and management is aided by the use of newer biomarkers like procalcitonin and presepsin. For prognostication, presepsin may be better than procalcitonin.

Ninety-two participants, suspected to be suffering from sepsis of varied etiologies were included in this study at the time of their presentation to the emergency health services. Presepsin and procalcitonin were estimated and the patient followed up till discharge or death. Receiver operating curve (ROC) curves, sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative likelihood ratios were calculated. Association between these markers and mortality was estimated.

Out of 92 participants enrolled on day 1, 73 survived till day 3. Patients who had thrombocytopenia, high neutrophil counts, and elevated levels of bilirubin, urea, presepsin, and procalcitonin were associated with poor outcomes. Presepsin and procalcitonin levels increased significantly from day 0 to day 3 in the nonsurvivor group as compared to the survivor group. On comparing the ROC curve of presepsin and procalcitonin, the area under the curve (AUC) of presepsin was more than procalcitonin, signifying that it was a better biomarker of mortality due to sepsis. At a cutoff value of 1.47 ng/dL, presepsin was a predictor of mortality in sepsis [odds ratio (OR) = 14]. It had similar sensitivity but better specificity than procalcitonin in predicting mortality.