Long pentraxin PTX3 is associated with mortality and disease severity in severe Leptospirosis.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the long pentraxin PTX3 in patients with severe leptospirosis and to compare the results with the widely used short pentraxin C-reactive protein and the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-8.


METHODS
This observational cohort study was carried out in Semarang, Indonesia, where leptospirosis is endemic and mortality is high. Consecutive patients with severe leptospirosis were sampled on admission and during follow-up.


RESULTS
A total number of 52 patients entered the study, the mortality was 27%. Severe leptospirosis patient yielded elevated plasma PTX3 levels. PTX3 correlated with IL-8 and to a lesser extent with CRP and IL-6 levels. High levels of PTX3, IL-6 and IL-8 were associated with mortality (OR 5.6, 95%CI: 1.2-26; OR 3.2, 95%CI: 1.2-8.1; OR 6.5, 95%CI: 1.5-28). Moreover, PTX3 levels were associated with disease severity (OR 9.5; 95%CI: 2.9-45). This association was unique, since none of the other markers showed this relation. C-reactive protein was not able to differentiate the severe from the severest cases.


CONCLUSIONS
The long pentraxin PTX3 is elevated in patients with severe leptospirosis and is associated with fatal disease and disease severity. PTX3 may be used as a marker to monitor disease severity in severe leptospirosis or predict outcome.
Wagenaar
Jiri F P
JF
Slotervaart Hospital, Department of Internal Medicine (9B), Louwesweg 6, 1066 EC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. jfpwagenaar@hotmail.com
Goris
Marga G A
MG
Gasem
M Hussein
MH
Isbandrio
Bambang
B
Moalli
Federica
F
Mantovani
Alberto
A
Boer
Kimberly R
KR
Hartskeerl
Rudy A
RA
Garlanda
Cecilia
C
van Gorp
Eric C M
EC
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007214:Indonesia; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000097:blood; D007922:Leptospirosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000401:mortality*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012372:ROC Curve; D018805:Sepsis / Q000097:blood / Q000401:mortality; D000683:Serum Amyloid P-Component / Q000378:metabolism*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000097:blood / Q000401:mortality; D000099153:Pentraxins
D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; D000683:Serum Amyloid P-Component; D000099153:Pentraxins