EVALUATION OF SERUM BIOMARKERS IN SEPSIS PROGNOSIS: A PROSPECTIVE OBSERVATIONAL STUDY
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Keywords
Sepsis, Procalcitonin, Interleukin-6, Biomarkers, Prognosis, Kaplan–Meier survival
Abstract
Sepsis is a life-threatening condition characterized by dysregulated host response to infection, leading to organ dysfunction and high mortality. Early identification of prognostic biomarkers is essential for guiding therapeutic decisions. Procalcitonin (PCT) and Interleukin-6 (IL-6) have emerged as potential biomarkers for predicting sepsis severity and outcomes.
Objectives: To evaluate the prognostic utility of serum Procalcitonin and IL-6 levels in patients with sepsis admitted to the Department of Medicine at Kanti Devi Medical College and Research Centre, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, India, between February 2024 and January 2025.
Methods: This prospective observational study included 120 adult patients diagnosed with sepsis based on Sepsis-3 criteria. Serum PCT and IL-6 levels were measured within 24 hours of admission. Patients were followed for 28 days, and survival outcomes were analyzed using Kaplan–Meier survival curves. Data on common sources of sepsis were also recorded.
Results: Among 120 patients, the respiratory tract was the most common source of sepsis (35%), followed by urinary tract (25%), intra-abdominal infections (15%), bloodstream infections (10%), skin/soft tissue infections (8%), central nervous system infections (4%), and line-associated sepsis (3%). Elevated baseline PCT (>10 ng/mL) and IL-6 (>200 pg/mL) were significantly associated with higher 28-day mortality (p<0.05). Kaplan–Meier analysis demonstrated reduced survival in patients with elevated biomarkers compared to those with lower levels.
Conclusion: Elevated serum Procalcitonin and IL-6 levels are strong predictors of poor prognosis in sepsis patients. Their incorporation into routine clinical practice may help in early risk stratification and improved management strategies. Further multicentric studies with larger cohorts are warranted to validate these findings.
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Zeeshan Khan
Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Kanti Devi Medical College and Research Centre, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, India,
Arvind Kumar
Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (HIMSR), New Delhi, India,
Shilpa Rani
DNB Resident, Department of Surgery, Max Superspeciality Hospital, Vaishali, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India,
Sameer Khan
MD Student (Final Year), Department of Medicine, All American Institute of Medical Sciences, 66 High Street, Black River, St. Elizabeth Jamaica, West Indies,
Shoaib Khan
MD Student (Final Year), Department of Medicine, All American Institute of Medical Sciences, 66 High Street, Black River, St. Elizabeth Jamaica, West Indies,