Citation

Diaz J, Tornel PL, Jara P, Cañizares F, Egea JM, Martínez P. Clin. Chim. Acta 1995; 236(2): 119-127.

Affiliation

Department of Biochemistry, University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1995, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

7554278

Abstract

The clinical usefulness of quantitative plasma polymorphonuclear elastase (PMN-elastase) determinations as prognostic markers of adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in polytraumatized patients was analyzed. PMN-elastase and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were determined in 55 polytraumatized patients admitted into the Intensive Care Unit. Eight patients developed ARDS and 47 patients did not. These parameters were also analyzed in a control group (n = 34). PMN-elastase levels in ARDS cases reached significantly higher values than in patients who did not develop this syndrome (P < 0.01). We conclude that the increase in plasma PMN-elastase levels can be useful in predicting the development of ARDS in polytraumatized patients, in instituting prophylactic actions and monitoring the course of the disease in these high risk patients. This test is easily adaptable to the routine of any hospital laboratory.

Language: en