title: Hyaluronan serum concentrations are elevated in critically ill patients and associated with disease severity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The matrix protein hyaluronic acid (HA, hyaluronan) has possibly additional immune-regulatory functions in inflammation. We aimed at evaluating serum HA concentrations in critically ill patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed serum HA levels in 164 critically ill patients at a medical ICU and 61 healthy controls, with respect to organ dysfunction, systemic inflammation and mortality.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hyaluronan serum concentrations upon admission to ICU were significantly elevated in critically ill patients compared to healthy controls, with the highest levels in patients with pre-existing liver cirrhosis or sepsis. HA levels were closely correlated with biomarkers of hepatic and renal function, systemic inflammation, demand of treatment measures and clinical scores of disease severity, but could not predict risk of mortality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Measurement of serum HA may supplement the assessment of disease severity in ICU patients. Our data suggest that HA might have implications in the pathogenesis of critical illness and sepsis.
authors.affiliation: Medical Care Center, Dr. Stein and colleagues, Wallstraße 10, 41061 Mönchengladbach, Germany.
authors.forename: Eray
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yagmur
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.forename: Michaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haumann
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kramann
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Trautwein
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tacke
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D016638:Critical Illness; D005260:Female; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D007249:Inflammation; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D018805:Sepsis / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid