Analysis of diagnostic efficacy of serum miR-126-5p levels for stratifying severity in pediatric acute appendicitis

BACKGROUND: Current reports implicate miR-126-5p and its diagnostic potential in inflammatory diseases. However, its role in pediatric acute appendicitis remains unclear. The study was investigated miR-126-5p expression and its diagnostic efficacy in pediatric acute appendicitis. METHODS: Study cohort comprised 272 children with acute appendicitis and 103 controls. Inflammatory indices were quantified by blood film and ELISA. Their relationship with miR-126-5p was examined by Pearson correlation. Diagnostic efficacy was assessed through ROC curve. Risk factors were identified by multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Serum miR-126-5p was significantly increased in acute appendicitis group, concomitant with elevated peripheral blood inflammatory cells. Significantly positive correlations were observed between miR-126-5p and these cells. ROC curve of miR-126-5p yield an AUC of 0.845. However, miR-126-5p was downregulated 24 h postoperatively and remained significantly correlated with reduced inflammatory cells and mediators. The total incidence of postoperative complications was higher in high miR-126-5p group than the low expression group. Multivariate logistic regression identified WBC, CRP, and miR-126-5p as independent risk factors for postoperative complications. CONCLUSION: Preoperative serum miR-126-5p levels were significantly elevated in pediatric acute appendicitis while they declined sharply by 24 h postoperatively. MiR-126-5p was positively correlated with inflammatory indices. It showed diagnostic potential in pediatric acute appendicitis. Patients with high miR-126-5p level faced more risk of postoperative complications. MiR-126-5p was a risk factor for postoperative complications.