title: Pro-adrenomedullin usefulness in the management of children with community-acquired pneumonia, a preliminar prospective observational study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In adult population with community acquired pneumonia high levels of pro-adrenomedullin (pro-ADM) have been shown to be predictors of worse prognosis. The role of this biomarker in pediatric patients had not been analyzed to date. The objective of this study is to know the levels of pro-ADM in children with community acquired pneumonia (CAP) and analyze the relation between these levels and the patients' prognosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prospective observational study including patients attended in the emergency service (January to October 2009) admitted to hospital with CAP and no complications at admission. The values for pro-ADM were analyzed in relation to: need for oxygen therapy, duration of oxygen therapy, fever and antibiotic therapy, complications, admission to the intensive care unit, and length of hospital stay. Fifty patients were included. Ten presented complications (7 pleural effusion). The median level of pro-ADM was 1.0065 nmol/L (range 0.3715 to 7.2840 nmol/L). The patients presenting complications had higher levels of pro-ADM (2.3190 vs. 1.1758 nmol/L, p = 0.013). Specifically, the presence of pleural effusion was associated with higher levels of pro-ADM (2.9440 vs. 1.1373 nmol/L, p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our sample of patients admitted to hospital with CAP, pro-ADM levels are related to the development of complications during hospitalization.
authors: Emergency Department, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Universitat de Barcelona, Passeig Sant Joan de Déu 2, Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
authors: Marta
authors: M
authors: Sardà Sánchez
authors: Joan Calzada
authors: JC
authors: Hernández
authors: Susanna
authors: S
authors: Hernández-Bou
authors: Gemma Claret
authors: GC
authors: Teruel
authors: Jesús Velasco
authors: JV
authors: Rodríguez
authors: Carles Luaces
authors: CL
authors: Cubells
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D053607:Adrenomedullin / Q000097:blood*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy; D010343:Patient Admission; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000209:etiology; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000097:blood*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013030:Spain; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D011498:Protein Precursors; C088633:proadrenomedullin; D053607:Adrenomedullin