PRESEPSIN, A SOLUBLE CD14-SUBTYPE, A POSSIBLE NEW BIOMARKER INCREASES IN SEPTIC PATIENTS’ PLASMA FROM PEDIATRIC DEPARTMENT.

CD14 is present in macrophage, monocyte, and granulocyte cell membranes. Its soluble fraction named presepsin is present in blood in association with infections, due to phagocytosis of microorganisms. Increased serum concentration of presepsin was reported in patients with severe bacterial sepsis in adults, however, little is known in children. We conducted a study of plasma presepsin concentration in pediatric patients. Sixty-one subjects who admitted to our hospital were enrolled. As control, six afebrile, non-septic children who admitted for routine cardiac catheter examinations for congenital heart disease were enrolled. Blood was withdrawn on admission. Together with presepsin assays, blood culture, white blood cell count, serum C-reactive protein and procalcitonin were assayed. Presepsin concentration ranged 195 to 866 pg/ml in patients whose blood culture was positive (n=5). On the other hand, patients with blood culture negative (n=34) remained in low level (p=0.050). Control subjects (n=6) showed significantly low concentration compared to blood culture positive children (p=0.019). Since presepsin has been reported to be an indicator of prognosis in adult patients with severe sepsis it could also be applied also to pediatric patients. Because number of subjects is limited, more study is required to confirm the result.