Soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor, but not soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1: as a potential diagnostic biomarker for sepsis

Background The purpose of the current study was to evaluate, with respect to other markers, the significance of two soluble surface markers in sepsis: soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) and soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (sTREM-1). Patients and methods The patients were divided into three groups: the total sepsis group included 40 individuals with sepsis and septic shock; the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) group included 20 patients; and the control group included 20 healthy volunteers. suPAR and sTREM-1 were tested using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits to determine their significance in sepsis. Results The suPAR was greater in both the sepsis group ( P <0.001) and the septic shock group ( P =0.001) than in the control group, and it was greater in the sepsis group than in the SIRS group ( P =0.05). sTREM-1 was not significantly different across the studied groups ( P =0.159). suPAR and sTREM-1 levels did not differ significantly between survivors and nonsurvivors ( P =0.64 and 0.62, respectively). Conclusion The suPAR was able to distinguish the sepsis group from the control group with high specificity, the sepsis group from the SIRS group with low sensitivity and specificity, and the septic shock group from the control group; however, the suPAR did not have a value in detecting mortality. However, sTREM-1 did not contribute to the diagnosis or prognosis of sepsis in this study.