Surface triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (sTREM1) in critically ill children: a prospective observational controlled study
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: BACKGROUND: In children admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), early detection of risk factors and alarming indicators improves the prognosis and may even save lives. Several prognostic markers and scores have been studied in children who are seriously ill. Recently, surface triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (sTREM1) has been studied in many infectious and non-infectious settings; however, there is little information on critically ill children. Our aim is to evaluate the sTREM1 level in critically ill children and assess its prognostic role. METHOD: A prospective observational study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital. 70 critically ill children and 50 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were obtained. sTREM1 level was assessed on admission to the PICU. Patients with conditions affecting immunity were excluded. The primary outcome was to assess the level of sTREM1 in both patients and controls. Secondary outcomes were mortality, morbidities as sepsis, need for mechanical ventilation, and PICU stay. RESULTS: The level of sTREM1 was significantly higher in patients than in controls (850 pg/mL, interquartile range [IQR] 510.0- 1375.0 vs. 67.5 pg/mL, IQR 40.0- 85.0; p<0.001). sTREM1 level was significantly higher in non-survivors (p <0.001), patients with sepsis (p = 0.0028), and in patients who were mechanically ventilated (p <0.001). sTREM1 level had a significant positive correlation with the duration of PICU stay (r=0.624, p <0.001), and the duration of mechanical ventilation (r=0.527, p <0.001). On ROC curve analysis, sTREM1 was the most significant diagnostic marker compared to lactate and procalcitonin, at a cutoff value of 680 pg/mL, with a sensitivity of 93.8% and a specificity of 61.1% with an area under the curve of 0.862. CONCLUSION: In critically ill children, sTREM1 has prognostic and diagnostic values. There were associations between sTREM1 and the severity of the disease. To validate our results, subgroup analysis and multicenter trials are necessary.
Authors: Elsaeed Rashad Fouda, Sara Hosny Abd Elghany, Thoria Ahmed Omar, Alyaa Ahdy Abdelaziz
Institution: Menoufia University
Language: English
Subfield: Immunology
Field: Immunology and Microbiology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4407961641