Procalcitonin as a marker of sepsis in alcoholic hepatitis

Diagnostic performance of procalcitonin for bacterial infection in severe alcoholic hepatitis compared with C-reactive protein

BACKGROUND

Severe alcoholic hepatitis is a catastrophic disease with a mortality rate of up to 35-50% at 30 days. Bacterial infection is an important prognostic factor in patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis, but it is difficult to detect the presence of infection immediately. Procalcitonin (PCT) is a well-known inflammatory marker that can detect bacterial infections in various diseases early. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of PCT for bacterial infection in severe alcoholic hepatitis.

METHODS

We prospectively enrolled patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis, defined as modified Maddrey's Discriminant Function ≥ 32, from 10 medical centers. At admission, we performed an initial evaluation including physical examination, laboratory test, radiology, blood and urine culture, PCT, and C-reactive protein (CRP). We compared the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves of PCT and CRP for bacterial infection, systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), and sepsis among total patients.

RESULTS

A total of 108 patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis were enrolled. The number of bacterial infections, SIRS, and sepsis were 31 (28.7%), 41 (38.0%), and 19 (17.6%), respectively. The patients with bacterial infection had significantly higher MELD scores (24.0 vs. 15.0), PCT levels (1.5 vs. 0.4 ng/mL), and CRP levels (4.9 vs. 2.5 mg/dL) compared to those without bacterial infection. The area under the ROC curve (AUROC) of PCT vs. CRP for bacterial infection was 0.752 and 0.655, respectively (P = 0.113). The AUROC of PCT vs. CRP for SIRS was 0.699 and 0.662, respectively (P = 0.490). The AUROC of PCT vs. CRP for sepsis was 0.780 and 0.630, respectively (P = 0.027).

CONCLUSIONS

Among patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis, PCT showed a trend of superior diagnostic performance in the early detection of bacterial infection and sepsis compared to CRP. Although PCT might have better potential to diagnose sepsis in the setting of severe alcoholic hepatitis, it is necessary to find more reliable diagnostic markers.

Assessment of immune function and prediction of survival and infection in patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis: An exploratory study

Background and Aim

Alcoholic hepatitis (AH), a severe complication of long-term alcohol misuse, has a 30% 90-day mortality. Infections are common and associated with higher mortality. There is currently no accurate method to predict infection in these patients. We aimed to test a measure of immune function, the QuantiFERON Monitor (QFM), in predicting clinical outcomes in patients with severe AH.

Methods

Peripheral blood was taken at baseline, and QFM performed according to the manufacturer's instructions. In parallel, QFM samples were analyzed with a cytokine multiplex. Clinical outcomes of mortality at 28 and 90 days and development of infection were recorded prospectively.

Results

Forty-nine patients were recruited (mean age 51, 59% male and mean discriminant function 57.8). Interferon (IFN)-γ release measured by standard QFM was significantly higher in survivors compared to non-survivors at 28 (102 vs 16 IU/mL, P = 0.02) and 90 days (115 vs 32 IU/mL; P = 0.046). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) was 0.79 for 28-day mortality. IFN-γ, IL-10, and IL-23 release measured by multiplex were significantly lower in patients who developed a subsequent infection compared to those who did not (115 vs 27 IU/mL, P = 0.037; 457 vs 202 pg/mL, P = 0.008; and 1039 vs 663 pg/mL, p = 0.01, respectively).

Conclusion

Immune dysfunction is associated with poorer outcomes in patients with severe AH. Measurement of IFN-γ release by standard QFM accurately predicts early mortality, which can be applied to clinical practice as a biomarker of survival. Adaptation of the test to measure IL-10 could be used as a biomarker of subsequent infection to guide clinical treatment decisions.

Infections in Alcoholic Hepatitis

Severe alcoholic hepatitis (sAH) is defined by a modified discriminant function ≥32 or model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) >20. Patients with sAH are in an immunocompromised state attributed to cirrhosis-related immunoparesis and corticosteroid use. Individuals with sAH often develop severe infections that adversely impact short-term prognosis. Currently, the corticosteroid prednisolone is the only treatment with proven efficacy in sAH; however, the combination of corticosteroid treatment and altered host defense in sAH has been thought to increase the risk of acquiring of bacterial, opportunistic fungal, and viral infections. Newer studies have shown that corticosteroids do not increase occurrence of infections in those with sAH; unfortunately, the lack of response to corticosteroids may instead predispose to infection development. Prompt and appropriate antibiotic treatment is therefore essential to improving patient outcomes. This review highlights common infections and risk factors in patients with sAH. Additionally, current diagnostic, therapeutic, and prophylactic strategies in these patients are discussed.

Utility of neutrophil CD64 in distinguishing bacterial infection from inflammation in severe alcoholic hepatitis fulfilling SIRS criteria

To assess utility of neutrophilCD64 (nCD64) expression in differentiating bacterial infection from inflammation in patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis (SAH) fulfilling systemic inflammatory response syndrome criteria. Patients with SAH and infection (n = 58), SAH without infection (n = 70), and healthy controls (n = 20) were included. Neutrophil CD64 expression by flowcytometry, serum Procalcitonin (ELISA) and C-reactive protein (Nephelometry) and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) were studied. Percentage of neutrophils with CD64 expression (nCD64%) was significantly higher in patients with SAH and infection than in those without infection and controls [76.2% (56.9-86.5) vs. 16% (12.6-23.1) vs. 7.05% (1.4-9.5), p < 0.05], as was their mean fluorescence intensity [MFI; 1431 (229-1828) vs. 853 (20-968) vs. 99.5 (54.7-140.7), p < 0.05]. Using a cut-off of 27%, the sensitivity and specificity of nCD64% to diagnose bacterial infection was 94% and 81%, respectively, with area under curve (AUC) of 0.95. At a cut-off value of 0.261 ng/ml, the sensitivity and specificity of serum procalcitonin was 83% and 72%, respectively, with AUC of 0.86. Serum CRP, total leukocyte count, NLR had AUCs of 0.78, 0.63 and 0.64, respectively. Quantitative measurement of nCD64 can better distinguish systemic bacterial infection and inflammation in SAH as compared to traditional biomarkers.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Procalcitonin for Bacterial Infection in Liver Failure: A Meta-Analysis

The purpose of our studies was to systematically assess the accuracy and clinical value of plasma calcitonin in patients with liver failure complicated with bacterial infection. In this study, we included prospective observational studies or randomized controlled trials on PCT. The quality of the studies was evaluated using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 (QUADAS-2) tool. Heterogeneity, pooled diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), pooled sensitivity, pooled specificity, pooled positive likelihood ratio, pooled negative likelihood ratio, the area under the summary receiver operating characteristic curve (SROC), and metaregression analysis were performed using Stata16.0 software. Consequently, the studies revealed substantial heterogeneity (I 2 = 96, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 94-99). The results of meta-analysis using random effect models suggested that the combined DOR was 10.67 (95% CI = 3.73-30.53). In addition, the threshold effect analysis showed that the threshold effect was 0.23 and the correlation coefficient was -0.48, indicating that there was no threshold effect. In the forest map, the DOR of each study and the combined DOR are not distributed along the same line, and Q = 2.2 × 1014, P ≤ 0.001. Furthermore, the metaregression analysis of PCT study design, bacterial infection site, and mean age displayed that the P values were >0.05. The combined sensitivity was 0.77 (95% CI = 0.54-0.90), the combined specificity was 0.76 (95% CI = 0.70-0.82), the combined positive likelihood ratio was 3.25 (95% CI = 2.33-4.52), the combined negative likelihood ratio was 0.30 (95% CI = 0.14-0.67), and the combined AUC was 0.80 (95% CI = 0.76-0.83). In conclusion, PCT has moderate diagnostic value for adult liver failure complicated with bacterial infection, and it is a better auxiliary diagnostic index for liver failure with bacterial infection. However, the results of procalcitonin must be carefully interpreted combined with medical history, physical examination, and microbiological assessment.

Comparative Effectiveness of Commercial Bowel Preparations in Ambulatory Patients Presenting for Screening or Surveillance Colonoscopy

BACKGROUND

Inadequate bowel preparation (IBP) is associated with reduced adenoma detection. However, limited research has examined the impact of different commercial bowel preparations (CBPs) on IBP and adenoma detection. We aim to determine whether type of CBP used is associated with IBP or adenoma detection.

METHODS

We retrospectively evaluated outpatient, screening or surveillance colonoscopies performed in the Cleveland Clinic health system between January 2011 and June 2017. IBP was defined by the Aronchick scale. Multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression was performed to assess the association between CBP type and IBP and adenoma detection. Fixed effects were defined as demographics, comorbidities, medication use, and colonoscopy factors. Random effect of individual endoscopist was considered.

RESULTS

Of 153,639 colonoscopies, 75,874 records met inclusion criteria. Median age was 54; 50% were female; 17.7% had IBP, and adenoma detection rate was 32.6%. In adjusted analyses, compared to GoLYTELY, only NuLYTELY [OR 0.66 (95% CI 0.60, 0.72)] and SuPREP [OR 0.53 (95% CI 0.40, 0.69)] were associated with reduced IBP. Adenoma detection did not vary based on the type of bowel preparation used.

CONCLUSIONS

Among patients referred for screening or surveillance colonoscopy, choice of CBP was not associated with adenoma detection. Decisions about CBP should be based on other factors, such as tolerability, cost, or safety.

Incidence and Risk Factors Associated With 30-Day Readmission for Alcoholic Hepatitis

BACKGROUND

Alcohol abuse and liver disease are associated with high rates of 30-day hospital readmission, but factors linking alcoholic hepatitis (AH) to readmission are not well understood. We aimed to determine the incidence rate of 30-day readmission for patients with AH and to evaluate potential predictors of readmission.

METHODS

We used the Nationwide Readmissions Database to determine the 30-day readmission rate for recurrent AH between 2010 and 2014 and examined trends in readmissions during the study period. We also identified the 20 most frequent reasons for readmission. Multivariate survey logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with 30-day readmission.

RESULTS

Of the 61,750 index admissions for AH, 23.9% were readmitted within 30-days. The rate of readmission did not change significantly during the study period. AH, alcoholic cirrhosis, and hepatic encephalopathy were the most frequent reasons for readmission. In multivariate analysis female sex, leaving against medical advice, higher Charlson comorbidity index, ascites, and history of bariatric surgery were associated with earlier readmissions, whereas older age, payer type (private or self-pay/other), and discharge to skilled nursing-facility reduced this risk.

CONCLUSIONS

The 30-day readmission rate in patients with AH was high and stable during the study period. Factors associated with readmission may be helpful for development of consensus-based expert guidelines, treatment algorithms, and policy changes to help decrease readmission in AH.

Procalcitonin and Liver Disease: A Literature Review

Procalcitonin (PCT) is a widely used biomarker for the diagnosis of bacterial infections. It is produced by various organs and the liver is considered to be the most important site of production. Severe liver dysfunction has been shown to influence PCT levels. Patients with no sources of infection who have liver disease are observed to have increased serum levels of PCT, thereby reducing the diagnostic utility and value within this particular patient subset. Here, we have summarized the relationship between PCT and liver disease, including liver cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver transplantation.

Alcoholic Hepatitis: Lost in Translation

Alcoholic hepatitis is the most severe and acute form of alcoholic liver disease. The mortality rate associated with alcoholic hepatitis is high, largely due to the lack of suitable pharmacological interventions. While there has been substantial research in the area, generating pharmacological interventions has been plagued by the lack of a robust mouse model both for testing and for understanding the underlying pathology. A number of major notable advances have been made in this area recently, with the goal of generating a mouse model of alcoholic hepatitis. The purpose of this article is to review recent advances in modeling alcoholic liver disease both in vitro and in vivo in the mouse, and place them in the context of the greater spectrum of alcoholic liver disease, with a focus on how we can translate current advances into a high-fidelity model of alcoholic hepatitis. In addition, we will review the basic mechanisms of alcoholic hepatitis as it is currently understood, focusing on recent advancements in diagnosis, prognosis and current pathophysiology, especially as it relates to the profound immune dysfunction present during alcoholic hepatitis.

Clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of liver cirrhosis patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome

AIM

Our objective is to study the clinical characteristics of cirrhosis patients with SIRS and investigate its prognostic factors.

METHODS

We analyzed 285 consecutive patients and their data were evaluated retrospectively. Data were compared in patients with/without SIRS during hospitalization. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were undertaken separately for cirrhotic patients with SIRS to assess predictive factors for 90-day mortality.

RESULTS

The mortality was 38.24% (52/136) in patients with SIRS and 6.04% (9/149) in patients without SIRS for 90-day follow-up (P < 0.001). The univariate analysis showed gastrointestinal hemorrhage (P < 0.001), hepatic encephalopathy (P < 0.001), albumin <30 g/L (P < 0.037), creatinine (Cr) >175 µmol/L (P < 0.001), cholinesterase(ChE) activity <3000 U/L (P = 0.019), white blood cell count ≥10 000 (109/L) (P = 0.018), neutrophils ≥80% (P = 0.018), C-reactive protein (CRP) ≥25 mg/L (P < 0.001), procalcitonin ≥1.0 ng/mL (P = 0.007), Child-Pugh class C (P < 0.001), septicemia (P < 0.001), pulmonary infection (P < 0.001),multi-site infection (P = 0.001), acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) (P < 0.001), and advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (P < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, only Cr ≥175 µmol/L (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.768; confidence interval [CI], 1.53-5.04; P = 0.001), C-reactive protein ≥25 mg/L (HR = 3.179; CI, 1.772-7.03; P = 0.004), multi-site infection (HR = 19.427; CI, 7.484-50.431; P < 0.001), ACLF (HR = 7.308; CI, 3.048-17.521; P < 0.001), advanced HCC (HR = 2.523; CI, 1.019-6.248; P = 0.045) were independent predictors of 90-day mortality in cirrhotic patients with SIRS.

CONCLUSION

Cr ≥ 175 µmol/L, CRP ≥ 25 mg/L, multi-site infection, ACLF, and advanced HCC independently predicted a higher rate of 90-day mortality in liver cirrhosis with SIRS.

Review article: recent insights into clinical decision-making in severe alcoholic hepatitis

BACKGROUND

Alcoholic hepatitis is a severe acute manifestation of alcoholic liver disease with a high mortality. Management of patients with this condition has been a matter of controversy for many years; however, recent clinical studies have sought to improve the clinical approach to these patients.

AIM

To use these recent studies in order to guide clinical management.

METHODS

A MeSH search of Medline was performed to specifically identify recent studies which influenced clinical diagnosis, assessment and management of alcoholic hepatitis.

RESULTS

Fulfilment of clear clinical criteria including a minimum threshold of bilirubin, defined periods of jaundice and alcohol ingestion negates the need for liver biopsy in most patients. Corticosteroids improve short-term mortality only (28 day) with other factors such as abstinence likely to be significant in long-term outcome. Pentoxifylline is not an effective treatment. The Glasgow Alcoholic Hepatitis Score (GAHS) score can identify those patients likely to benefit from corticosteroids, but scores that include the evolution of bilirubin over 1 week of such treatment (such as the Lille Score) define "response". Underlying infection may contribute towards corticosteroid nonresponse and needs to be actively sought out and treated. Liver transplant remains controversial; however, it has been shown to be feasible in alcoholic hepatitis.

CONCLUSIONS

Recent studies have helped to define patients who may benefit from corticosteroid treatment. However, there remains a need for more accurate scores of prognosis and treatment response, and a clear need for alternative treatments for those patients not responding to corticosteroid therapy.

Emerging concepts in alcoholic hepatitis

Severe alcoholic hepatitis is implicated as a costly, worldwide public health issue with high morbidity and mortality. The one-month survival for severe alcoholic hepatitis is low with mortality rates high as 30%-50%. Abstinence from alcohol is the recommended first-line treatment. Although corticosteroids remain as the current evidence based option for selected patients with discriminant function > 32, improvement of short-term survival rate may be the only benefit. Identification of individuals with risk factors for the development of severe alcoholic hepatitis may provide insight to the diverse clinical spectrum and prognosis of the disease. The understanding of the complex pathophysiologic processes of alcoholic hepatitis is the key to elucidating new therapeutic treatments. Newer research describes the use of gut microbiota modification, immune modulation, stimulation of liver regeneration, caspase inhibitors, farnesoid X receptors, and the extracorporeal liver assist device to aid in hepatocellular recovery. Liver transplantation can be considered as the last medical option for patients failing conventional medical interventions. Although the preliminary data is promising in patients with low risk of recividism, controversy remains due to organ scarcity. This review article comprehensively summarizes the epidemiology, pathophysiology, risk factors, and prognostic indicators of severe alcoholic hepatitis with a focus on the current and emerging therapeutics.

Infections in severe alcoholic hepatitis

Severe alcoholic hepatitis (sAH), defined by a modified discriminant function ≥32, is the most severe form of alcohol-induced liver disease and is associated with a 1-month mortality rate of around 30%. Corticosteroid treatment remains the only therapeutic option that improves short-term survival. Infectious complications, occurring in approximately 50% of patients, are the main causes of death, even in patients who benefit from corticosteroids. Liver failure, recent alcohol consumption and immunosuppressive drugs contribute to this infectious risk. Although infection is a well-described feature of cirrhosis, little is known about the characteristics of infections in sAH. Infection is mainly of bacterial origin and frequently affects the respiratory tract. Pathogens classically observed in cirrhosis, such as gram-negative bacilli, are frequently involved, but opportunistic pathogens, such as fungi (Aspergillus fumigatus, Pneumocystis jirovecii) or viruses (Cytomegalovirus, Herpes simplex) may appear, mainly related to corticosteroid treatment. A high level of suspicion with systematic screening and prompt, adequate treatment are warranted to improve outcomes in these patients. Prophylactic strategies in this high-risk population should be assessed in well-designed trials.

Role of Procalcitonin and C-Reactive Protein As Biomarkers of Infection in Children With Liver Disease

OBJECTIVES

Early and accurate identification of infection in patients with liver disease is challenging. The present study evaluated the role of procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) as biomarkers of bacterial infection in children with liver disease.

METHODS

Demographic and clinical data of consecutive children admitted with acute liver failure (ALF) or decompensated chronic liver disease (DCLD) were collected. PCT and CRP were measured within 24 hours of admission. Blood and urine culture, chest x-ray, and ascitic fluid analysis were done.

RESULTS

One hundred sixty-four children (113 boys, age 76 [0.5-204] months, ALF 69, DCLD 95) were enrolled. Seventy-seven (47%) had infection. Most common site was ascitic fluid (n = 35), followed by urinary tract (n = 26), pneumonia (n = 22), and blood stream infection (n = 16). Twenty-one children had multiple-site infections, 18 had severe sepsis, and 36 had systemic inflammatory response syndrome. PCT and CRP correlated with infection severity, higher in severe sepsis (8.3 [3.5-38] ng/mL and 4.1 [0.3-13.8] mg/dL) than only infection (0.89 [0.1-8] ng/mL and 1.7 [0.32-24] mg/dL) and no infection (0.3 [0.1-6.75] ng/mL and 0.3 [0.1-4.16 mg/dL]). Systemic inflammatory response syndrome was more common in patients with infection (31/77 vs 5/87, P = 0.00). PCT (>0.5 ng/mL) and CRP (>0.6 mg/dL) performed better in DCLD (AUC of 0.90 and 0.83) compared with patients with ALF (AUC of 0.73 and 0.69).

CONCLUSIONS

PCT and CRP are reliable markers of infection and correlate with infection severity in children with liver disease. Their diagnostic accuracy is better in DCLD than ALF cases.

[Procalcitonin as a tool for the assessment of successful therapy of severe sepsis : An analysis using clinical routine data]

INTRODUCTION

Procalcitonin (PCT) is a well-evaluated biomarker for the detection of severe bacterial infections and monitoring effectiveness of antibiotic therapy. This study aims to evaluate the usefulness of PCT in a clinical routine setting.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Of 358,763 clinical cases from 7 German hospitals in 2012 and 2013, 3854 cases had an ICD-10 code representing sepsis. A total of 1778 cases had pathologic PCT and one episode of infection. Of those, 671 showed a series of measures that was suitable to assess treatment success using PCT reduction. Propensity score matching was used to create two comparable groups with 211 patients in each group.

RESULTS

The group with PCT reduction within 12 days showed a highly significant better proportion of survival (146/211 vs. 17/211; p < 0.0001). The odds ratio for death according to PCT reduction vs. nonreduction is 25.64 (p < 0.0001; 95 % CI: 14.49-45.45). PCT was normalized after an average of 6.2 days.

DISCUSSION

The difference in survival implicates that PCT reduction is a suitable surrogate parameter to indicate successful antimicrobial therapy. Successful antibiotic therapy is a proven predictor for survival in sepsis. This study also showed concordant results in the group of patients with sepsis after abdominal surgery. Results from subgroup analyses confirm the initial findings. PCT reduction was used as surrogate for therapy success, as the antimicrobial therapy was not electronically available.

CONCLUSION

PCT reduction is a strong predictor for survival. However, the data show that overall use of PCT to monitor sepsis therapy is not yet routinely established. Hospitals should establish algorithms for sepsis treatment that include PCT for the assessment of adequacy and the monitoring of success of the antimicrobial therapy.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Alcoholic Hepatitis: A Systematic Review

Alcoholic hepatitis (AH) occurs in about one-third of individuals reporting long-term heavy alcohol use. It is associated with high short-term mortality, economic burden, and hospital resources utilization. We performed this systematic review to (i) describe clinical characteristics and genomics associated with the risk of AH; (ii) discuss role and limitations of liver biopsy and prognostic scoring systems; (iii) summarize evidence regarding the currently available therapies including liver transplantation; and (iv) outline emerging therapies with areas of unmet need. Literature search was performed for studies published in English language (January 1971 through March 2016). The following search engines were used: PubMed, Elsevier Embase, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Library. For the treatment section, only randomized controlled studies were included for this review. A total of 138 studies (59 randomized, 22 systematic reviews or meta-analyses, 7 surveys or guidelines, 7 population-based, and 43 prospective cohorts) were cited. There are over 325,000 annual admissions with AH contributing to about 0.8% of all hospitalizations in the United States. Liver biopsy may be required in about 25 to 30% cases for uncertain clinical diagnosis. Corticosteroids with or without N-acetylcysteine remains the only available therapy for severe episodes. Data are emerging on the role of liver transplantation as salvage therapy for select patients. Abstinence remains the most important factor impacting long-term prognosis. Results from the ongoing clinical trials within the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism-funded consortia are awaited for more effective and safer therapies. AH is a potentially lethal condition with a significant short-term mortality. A high index of suspicion is required. There remains an unmet need for noninvasive biomarkers for the diagnosis, and predicting prognosis and response to therapy.

Systemic inflammatory response and serum lipopolysaccharide levels predict multiple organ failure and death in alcoholic hepatitis

Alcoholic hepatitis (AH) frequently progresses to multiple organ failure (MOF) and death. However, the driving factors are largely unknown. At admission, patients with AH often show criteria of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) even in the absence of an infection. We hypothesize that the presence of SIRS may predispose to MOF and death. To test this hypothesis, we studied a cohort including 162 patients with biopsy-proven AH. The presence of SIRS and infections was assessed in all patients, and multivariate analyses identified variables independently associated with MOF and 90-day mortality. At admission, 32 (19.8%) patients were diagnosed with a bacterial infection, while 75 (46.3%) fulfilled SIRS criteria; 58 patients (35.8%) developed MOF during hospitalization. Short-term mortality was significantly higher among patients who developed MOF (62.1% versus 3.8%, P < 0.001). The presence of SIRS was a major predictor of MOF (odds ratio = 2.69, P = 0.025) and strongly correlated with mortality. Importantly, the course of patients with SIRS with and without infection was similar in terms of MOF development and short-term mortality. Finally, we sought to identify serum markers that differentiate SIRS with and without infection. We studied serum levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, and lipopolysaccharide at admission. All of them predicted mortality. Procalcitonin, but not high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, serum levels identified those patients with SIRS and infection. Lipopolysaccharide serum levels predicted MOF and the response to prednisolone.

CONCLUSION

In the presence or absence of infections, SIRS is a major determinant of MOF and mortality in AH, and the mechanisms involved in the development of SIRS should be investigated; procalcitonin serum levels can help to identify patients with infection, and lipopolysaccharide levels may help to predict mortality and the response to steroids.