Background/Objectives: This retrospective study analyzed soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) plasma levels alongside routine inflammatory markers, including the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte count ratio, C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), procalcitonin (PCT), and D-dimers in COVID-19 patients hospitalized during the Omicron wave of the pandemic. Methods: We measured plasma suPAR levels using a suPARnostic® Quick Triage kit. We divided COVID-19 patients into two groups based on the severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) criteria. The logistic regression analysis tested the predictive value of the biomarkers. Results: We evaluated 160 consecutive COVID-19 patients hospitalized between January and August 2022. The cohort exhibited a high incidence of comorbidities, with an in-hospital mortality rate of 5.6%. Upon admission, the median suPAR plasma levels were not significantly different between patients with mild COVID-19 (n = 110) and those with moderate/severe disease (n = 50), with 7.25 ng/mL and 7.55 ng/mL, respectively. We observed significant differences (p < 0.01) between the groups for CRP and IL-6 levels that were higher in moderate/severe disease than in mild infection. Additionally, suPAR plasma levels were above the normal range (0-2.00 ng/mL) in all patients, with a significant positive correlation identified between suPAR levels and serum IL-6, PCT, and creatinine levels. Conclusions: These findings indicate that COVID-19 during the Omicron wave is strongly associated with elevated suPAR levels; however, these levels do not directly correlate with the severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
To assess automated volumetric analysis as a potential presurgical diagnostic tool or as a method to potentially shed light on normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) pathophysiology. MRI imaging according to our protocol was performed in 29 NPH patients, 45 non-NPH (but suspected) patients and 15 controls. Twenty patients underwent a second MRI 3 months after ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt surgery. All structures relevant to NPH diagnosis were automatically segmented using commercial software. The results were subsequently tested using ANOVA analysis. Significant differences in the volumes of the corpus callosum, left hippocampus, internal globus pallidus, grey and white matter and ventricular volumes were observed between NPH group and healthy controls. However, the differences between NPH and non-NPH groups were non-significant. Three months after, VP shunt insertion decreased ventricular volume was the only clearly significant result (p value 0.0001). Even though a detailed volumetric study shows several significant differences, volumetric analysis as a standalone method does not provide a simple diagnostic biomarker, nor does it shed a light on an unknown NPH aetiology.
- MeSH
- kohortové studie MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- magnetická rezonanční tomografie MeSH
- normotenzní hydrocefalus diagnóza patofyziologie chirurgie MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- velikost orgánu MeSH
- ventrikuloperitoneální zkrat MeSH
- výsledek terapie MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
