Clinical Value of Galectin-9, Soluble TREM-1, and Soluble CD25 Among Critically Ill Patients with Organ Failure in the Emergency Department: A Prospective Observational Study

<b>Background/Objectives</b>: This study investigated clinical value of galectin-9 (Gal-9), a soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (sTREM-1), and soluble CD25 (sCD25) among critically ill patients with organ failure in the emergency department. <b>Methods</b>: Overall, 786 patients were enrolled and classified into non-infectious organ failure (NIOF, <i>n</i> = 331), sepsis (<i>n</i> = 266), and septic shock (<i>n</i> = 189). The diagnostic value of Gal-9, sTREM-1, and sCD25 were evaluated by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. The prognostic value of the biomarkers was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier survival curve and Cox proportional hazard model analyses. <b>Results</b>: Gal-9, sTREM-1, and sCD25 could discriminate sepsis from NIOF (Gal-9, area under the curve [AUC], 0.599-0.678; sTREM-1, AUC, 0.616-0.695; sCD25, AUC, 0.710-0.781) and septic shock from sepsis (Gal-9, AUC, 0.562-0.667; sTREM-1, AUC, 0.572-0.676; sCD25, AUC, 0.555-0.660), respectively. Sepsis patients with higher levels of biomarkers over their cut-off value showed higher 30-day mortality compared to those with lower levels below the cut-off value (Gal-9 ≥ 14,391.80 ng/L, <i>p</i> < 0.001; sTREM-1 ≥ 580.62 ng/L, <i>p</i> < 0.001; sCD25 ≥ 1639.29 ng/L, <i>p</i> < 0.001; respectively) (log-rank test). sCD25 is an independent risk factor for 30-day mortality in patients with sepsis or septic shock. <b>Conclusions</b>: Gal-9, sTREM-1, and sCD25 showed diagnostic and prognostic value in critically ill patients with organ failure. sCD25 can predict the 30-day mortality in patients with sepsis. Gal-9, sTREM-1, and sCD25 could serve as auxiliary biomarkers to support clinicians in effective sepsis management.