The Prognostic Value of suPAR Compared to Other Inflammatory Markers in Patients with Severe Sepsis

Abstract: It has been suggested that soluble urokinase plasminogen activator (suPAR) can be used as a marker of disease severity andrisk of mortality in sepsis. The aim with the present study was to compare plasma levels of suPAR in patients with severe sepsis tocontrol subjects and correlate it with the level of inflammatory activation, severity and mortality. Samples were collected from 27 sepsispatients at the intensive care unit (ICU), Lund, Sweden; 90-day mortalities were registered. The suPAR level was significantly elevatedin sepsis patients compared to controls, but not significantly higher in nonsurvivors than survivors. Plasma levels of suPAR did correlateweakly with the SOFA score and myeloperoxidase (MPO) but not with CRP, PCT, IL-6 or IL-10 in patients with severe sepsis. The weakcorrelation between suPAR and other inflammatory markers might suggest that suPAR reflects general activation of the immune systemrather than exerting inflammatory actions