Diagnostic value of lipopolysaccharide-binding protein and procalcitonin for sepsis diagnosis in forensic pathology.
The aims of this study were twofold. The first was to investigate the diagnostic performance of two biochemical markers, procalcitonin (PCT) and lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP), considering each individually and then combined, for the postmortem diagnosis of sepsis. We also tested the usefulness of pericardial fluid for postmortem LBP determination. Two study groups were formed, a sepsis-related fatalities group of 12 cases and a control group of 30 cases. Postmortem native CT scans, autopsy, histology, neuropathology, and toxicology as well as other postmortem biochemical investigations were performed in all cases. Microbiological investigations were also carried out in the septic group. Postmortem serum PCT and LBP levels differed between the two groups. Both biomarkers, individually considered, allowed septic states to be diagnosed, whereas increases in both postmortem serum PCT and LBP levels were only observed in cases of sepsis. Similarly, normal PCT and LBP values in postmortem serum were identified only in non-septic cases. Pericardial fluid LBP levels do not correlate with the presence of underlying septic states. No relationship was observed between postmortem serum and pericardial fluid LBP levels in either septic or non-septic groups, or between pericardial fluid PCT and LBP levels.
University Centre of Legal Medicine, Rue du Bugnon 21, 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Marc
M
Augsburger
Katia
K
Iglesias
Daniel
D
Bardy
Patrice
P
Mangin
Cristian
C
Palmiere
D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010496:Pericardium / Q000378:metabolism; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000378:metabolism*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018805:Sepsis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult; D000099231:Lipopolysaccharide-Binding Protein
D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D015415:Biomarkers; D002116:Calcitonin; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D011498:Protein Precursors; D000099231:Lipopolysaccharide-Binding Protein; C000606589:CALCA protein, human