Open AccessHigh mobility group box 1 as a biomarker in critically ill patients
Author(s) -
Yagmur Eray,
Buendgens Lukas,
Herbers Ulf,
Beeretz Anne,
Weiskirchen Ralf,
Koek Ger H.,
Trautwein Christian,
Tacke Frank,
Koch Alexander
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of clinical laboratory analysis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.536
H-Index - 50
eISSN - 1098-2825
pISSN - 0887-8013
DOI - 10.1002/jcla.22584
Subject(s) - medicine , sepsis , critically ill , intensive care unit , biomarker , hemodialysis , disease , pathological , immune system , systemic inflammation , inflammation , critical illness , diabetes mellitus , systemic inflammatory response syndrome , intensive care medicine , immunology , endocrinology , biochemistry , chemistry
Background Extracellular release of high mobility group box 1 ( HMGB 1) acts as a danger‐associated molecular pattern, thereby “alarming” the immune system and promoting systemic inflammation. We investigated plasma HMGB 1 concentrations as a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in critical illness. Methods Our study included 218 critically ill patients (145 with sepsis, 73 without sepsis), of whom blood samples were obtained at the time‐point of admission to the medical intensive care unit ( ICU ). Results High mobility group box 1 levels were significantly elevated in critically ill patients (n = 218) compared with healthy controls (n = 66). Elevated HMGB 1 plasma levels were independent from the presence of sepsis. Moreover, HMGB 1 was not associated with disease severity, organ failure, or mortality in the ICU . We observed a trend toward lower HMGB 1 levels in ICU patients with pre‐existing obesity, type 2 diabetes and end‐stage renal disease patients on chronic hemodialysis. Conclusion In conclusion, our study did not reveal significant associations between HMGB 1 levels at ICU admission and clinical outcomes in critically ill patients. Due to the pathogenic role of HMGB 1 in the late phases of experimental sepsis, future studies might assess the potential value of HMGB 1 by measuring its plasma concentrations at later time points during the course of critical illness.