Value of soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 in diagnosis of bacterial pneumonia

Objective To investigate the value of soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1(sTREM- 1) in the diagnosis of bacterial pneumonia. Methods Serum sTREM-1, PCT, CRP levels were determined in 75 patients with bacterial pneumonia and 72 normal controls by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The diagnostic value was assessed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC)curve analysis. Subgroup analysis was performed in pneumonia patients. The correlation between level of serum sTREM-1 and clinical pulmonary infection score (CPIS) was analyzed. Results Level of serum sTREM-1 was significant higher in pneumonia group than in the normal control group [(9.89± 6.13) ng/mL vs (3.37±1.67) ng/mL,P=0.001].For ROC curve, when the cut-off value of sTREM-1 was set at 4.46 ng/mL, the sensitivity was 70.7%, specificity was 76.4%, positive predictive value was 75.7% and negative predictive value was 71.4%. In pneumonia group, sTREM-1 level increased significantly in severe pneumonia than non-severe pneumonia [(12.65±6.37) ng/mL vs (9.14±5.91) ng/mL, P0.05]. In pneumonia group, sTREM-1 level correlated positively with CPIS (P0.05). Conclusions Detection of serum sTREM-1 is helpful in the diagnosis of bacterial pneumonia. sTREM-1 level is higher in severe pneumonia and has a positive correlation with CPIS. Serum sTREM-1 level could help to evaluate the severity of infection.