title: Utility of the plasma level of suPAR in monitoring risk of mortality during TB treatment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether changes in the plasma level of soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) can be used to monitor tuberculosis (TB) treatment efficacy.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective cohort study included 278 patients diagnosed with active pulmonary TB and followed throughout the 8-month treatment period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mortality during treatment was higher in the highest inclusion quartile of suPAR (23%) compared to the lowest three quartiles (7%), the risk ratio being 3.1 (95% CI 1.65-6.07). No association between early smear conversion and subsequent mortality or inclusion suPAR was observed. After 1 and 2 months of treatment, an increase in suPAR compared to at diagnosis was associated with a Mortality Rate Ratio (MRR) of 4.5 (95%CI: 1.45-14.1) and 2.1 (95%CI 0.62-6.82), respectively, for the remaining treatment period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study confirmed that elevated suPAR level at time of initiation of TB treatment is associated with increased risk of mortality. Furthermore, increased suPAR levels after one month of treatment was associated with increased risk of mortality during the remaining 7-month treatment period.
authors.affiliation: Bandim Health Project, Indepth Network, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau.
authors.forename: Paulo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rabna
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wejse
authors.forename: Ines
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Victor Francisco
authors.initials: VF
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.forename: Maya Bonde
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Haaland
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Aaby
authors.forename: Jesper
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Eugen-Olsen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055293:Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator / Q000097:blood*; D012306:Risk; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality*
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D055293:Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator