The diagnostic and prognostic significance of SCUBE1 levels in Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever.

BACKGROUND

The new biochemical marker, signal peptide-CUB-EGF domain-containing protein 1 (SCUBE1), is secreted and cell surface glycoprotein expressed during early embryogenesis. The protein is found in platelet and endothelial cells. Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF), which is caused by a tick-borne virus belonging to the Bunyaviridae family, may present with a mild clinical course or may exhibit a severe profile with potentially fatal hemorrhaging. The aim of this study was to determine the diagnostic and prognostic significance of SCUBE1 levels in CCHF.

METHODS

This study was conducted with patients with CCHF. SCUBE1 levels in patients with CCHF were determined using an ELISA.

RESULTS

SCUBE1 titers of CCHF patients were significantly higher compared to those of the control group (p=0.0001). SCUBE1 levels of patients with hemorrhage were significantly higher than those of patients without hemorrhage (p=0.0001). SCUBE1 values of patients who died were significantly higher than those of the survivors (p=0.012).

CONCLUSIONS

SCUBE1 levels are a new biomarker that can be used in the differential diagnosis and monitoring of patients hospitalized with suspected CCHF. These levels are also significant as potential predictors of mortality.