Predictive value of copeptin as a severity marker of community-acquired pneumonia.

BACKGROUND

Pneumonia is the leading cause of death in children. Few studies have explored the predictive value of copeptin in pediatric pneumonia.

AIM

This study aimed to assess the role of copeptin as a marker of severity of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).

METHODS

This prospective case-control study was carried out at Minia University Children's Hospital in Minia (Egypt) from January to December 2016. Eighty children aged from 2 months to 42 months were enrolled in this study and were classified into group 1 (40 children with clinical, laboratory and radiological evidence of pneumonia) and group 2 (40 apparently healthy control). Serum copeptin level was assayed for all enrolled children.

RESULTS

Mean serum copeptin level was significantly higher in pneumonic patients (985.7±619) pg/ml compared to controls (519±308.2) pg/ml (p<0.001). Serum copeptin was significantly elevated in survivors of pneumonia more than non-survivors (p=0.001). Also, copeptin was significantly higher in the group of non-survivors (1811.8±327.1) compared to 745.4±472.5 for survivors (p=0.01). There was a significant positive correlation between serum copeptin levels and the degree of respiratory distress (p=0.02).

CONCLUSION

Copeptin seems a reliable and available predictor marker for assessing the severity and prognosis of pediatric community acquired pneumonia.