title: Ready for Prime Time? Biomarkers in Sepsis.
abstract: Sepsis is a common condition managed in the emergency department. Current diagnosis relies on physiologic criteria and suspicion of a source of infection using history, physical examination, laboratory studies, and imaging studies. The infection triggers a host response with the aim to destroy the pathogen, and this response can be measured. A reliable biomarker for sepsis should assist with earlier diagnosis, improve risk stratification, or improve clinical decision making. Current biomarkers for sepsis include lactate, troponin, and procalcitonin. This article discusses the use of lactate, procalcitonin, troponin, and novel biomarkers for use in sepsis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium (SAUSHEC) Emergency Medicine, San Antonio Military Medical Center, 3841 Roger Brooke Drive, Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234, USA. Electronic address: brit.long@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Brit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Long
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Parkland Memorial Hospital, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Koyfman
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000097:blood; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D006801:Humans; D007773:Lactates / Q000097:blood; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018570:Risk Assessment; D018805:Sepsis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014336:Troponin / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D007773:Lactates; D014336:Troponin; D002116:Calcitonin
keywords: Biomarkers; Lactate; Proadrenomedullin; Procalcitonin; Sepsis; Troponin