Moss 27.03.2019
Gentian Diagnostics AS is pleased to announce that the results from a study conducted in collaboration with University College of London (UCL) are published in Critical Care 2020, Meeting Abstracts from the 40th International Symposium on Intensive Care & Emergency Medicine. The results indicate that calprotectin can be used as an early biomarker for infection and inflammation. The study also shows earlier release of calprotectin compared to other conventional biomarkers (procalcitonin and C-reactive protein (CRP)). Early activation of immune response and recognition of bacterial infection and sepsis is a key step for early and correct initiation of antibiotic treatment. Calprotectin is released by neutrophils upon their activation and may thus act as an early biomarker of inflammation and bacterial infection.
The study investigated the kinetics of calprotectin release upon stimulation of inflammatory response in healthy volunteers administered with intravenous endotoxin. The kinetics of calprotectin release were compared with the kinetics of routine biomarkers procalcitonin and CRP.
Endotoxin administration activates the innate immune system and is used as a model to study the activation of this early defense mechanism. The major functions of the innate immunity include the recruitment of immune cells to the site of infection, activation of the complement cascade and activation of white blood cells to eliminate the microorganisms. This is a rapid process resulting in neutrophil activation and release of proteins stored in neutrophils.
Healthy male volunteers were administered a low dose of endotoxin. Blood was collected at baseline and at several timepoints, up to 7 days post injection. Plasma calprotectin was analysed with a particle enhanced turbidimetric immunoassay (Gentian Diagnostics) and the kinetics of calprotectin was compared to the kinetics of CRP and procalcitonin.
Results from the study show that plasma calprotectin concentration began to increase 1.5 hours after endotoxin administration and was significantly higher than baseline by 2 hours, peaked at 4 hours and normalized by 24 hrs. Calprotectin peaked earlier than comparator soluble mediators, procalcitonin at 8 hrs and CRP at 24 hrs and exhibited 100% sensitivity.
The results indicate the potential of plasma calprotectin as an early biomarker for bacterial infection. It increases earlier and peaks more rapidly than standard biomarkers. Plasma calprotectin warrants further investigation as a tool to permit rapid diagnosis and treatment of infection.
For further information, please contact:
Hilja Ibert CEO, Gentian Diagnostics
E-mail: hilja.ibert@gentian.no
Cell Phone: +47 919 05 242
Hilja Ibert CEO, Gentian Diagnostics
E-mail: hilja.ibert@gentian.no
Cell Phone: +47 919 05 242