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Group II phospholipase A2 in sera of febrile patients with microbiologically or clinically documented infections
1Department of Medicine, University of Turku, Finland.
Abstract:
Group II phospholipase A2 (PLA2-II) is an inflammatory enzyme, which has been shown to be an acute-phase protein and to correlate with the severity of sepsis. In a prospective study, the concentration of PLA2-II in the sera of 46 patients with sepsis and nonseptic bacterial and viral infections was measured by a fluoroimmunoassay. The serum concentration of PLA2-II in patients with infections (median, 164.5 micrograms/L; range, 5.07-1,740 micrograms/L) was elevated 46-fold above normal concentrations (median, 3.61 micrograms/L; range, 1.32-25.25 micrograms/L). The concentration of PLA2-II was higher in patients with sepsis (median, 284.5 micrograms/L; range, 12.95-1,574 micrograms/L) and nonseptic bacterial infections (median, 210.6 micrograms/L; range, 5.07-1,740 micrograms/L) than in those with viral infections (median, 46.78 micrograms/L; range 11.46-275.9 micrograms/L) (P = .0042). The concentration of PLA2-II correlated well with the concentration of C-reactive protein (CRP) (r = .613, P = .0001) but not with the concentration of pancreatic PLA2 (r = .089, P = .365). Measuring the serum concentration of PLA2-II is useful as an adjunct to the determination of CRP concentrations for differentiating bacterial from viral infection.
Insights
Group II phospholipase A2 (PLA2-II) is an inflammatory enzyme. Elevated PLA2-II serum levels in patients help differentiate bacterial from viral infections, correlating with C-reactive protein (CRP).
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Immunology
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Group II phospholipase A2 (PLA2-II) is recognized as an inflammatory enzyme and an acute-phase protein.
- PLA2-II levels have been linked to the severity of sepsis.
- Its role in distinguishing infection types warrants further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the diagnostic utility of serum PLA2-II concentrations in differentiating bacterial from viral infections.
- To compare PLA2-II levels in patients with sepsis, nonseptic bacterial infections, and viral infections.
- To assess the correlation between PLA2-II and C-reactive protein (CRP) and pancreatic PLA2.
Main Methods:
- A prospective study involving 46 patients with sepsis and nonseptic bacterial or viral infections.
- Serum concentrations of PLA2-II were measured using a fluoroimmunoassay.
- Serum concentrations of CRP and pancreatic PLA2 were also measured for correlation analysis.
Main Results:
- Serum PLA2-II concentrations were significantly elevated (46-fold) in infected patients compared to normal levels.
- PLA2-II levels were higher in patients with sepsis and bacterial infections than in those with viral infections (P = .0042).
- A strong positive correlation was observed between PLA2-II and CRP concentrations (r = .613, P = .0001), but not with pancreatic PLA2.
Conclusions:
- Serum PLA2-II concentration is a useful adjunct to CRP for differentiating bacterial from viral infections.
- Elevated PLA2-II levels indicate bacterial infection, including sepsis.
- PLA2-II serves as a valuable biomarker in infectious disease diagnostics.