Accuracy of Infection Biomarkers in the Investigation of Patients With Suspected Acute Pyelonephritis

NCT ID: NCT04686318

Last Updated: 2022-09-14

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Total Enrollment: 229 participants
• Study Classification: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2021-03-01
• Study Completion Date: 2022-06-01

Brief Summary

The aim of this study is to investigate the diagnostic and prognostic value of C-reactive protein (CRP), serum procalcitonin (PCT) and soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) in the initial investigation of patients hospitalized with suspected acute pyelonephritis (APN).

Detailed Description

Acute pyelonephritis (APN) is a severe acute infection in the upper urinary tract, which quite frequently is seen in the emergency department (ED). In our study, we define APN as a urinary tract infection with extension above the bladder, implicated by systemic affection in a suspected urinary tract infection (ie, fever, chills, malaise and/or lethargy beyond normal, signs of sepsis). Most often, an infection of the bladder ascends to the kidneys, causing APN. Symptoms and clinical affection range from mild to severe, but it is always important to recognize and treat APN fast in order to prevent progression to sepsis, renal failure and ultimately death. Uncertain or delayed diagnosis will often lead to an overconsumption of broad-spectrum antibiotics, which contributes to increased development of resistant bacteria and thus threaten the treatment options of the future.

APN diagnosis is primarily made today on the basis of clinical symptoms and findings in the form of flank tenderness, fever and nausea/vomiting. Typical symptoms of cystitis (dysuria, pollakisuria, suprapubic pain, hematuria) are possible but often absent. Especially elderly can present with more generalized signs of infection with nothing clearly indicating localization to the urinary tract. A positive urine culture verifies the diagnosis, but it is only available after a minimum of 24 hours.

To support the diagnosis of an APN and assess its severity, a measure of the systemic inflammatory response is useful such as abnormal temperature, elevated leucocyte count with neutrocytosis, or elevated C-reactive protein (CRP). Some uncertainty is associated with CRP because it has a delayed response to bacterial infection and is often elevated in non-infectious inflammatory conditions. A more sensitive and specific marker is desired that can differentiate between bacterial and viral infection and reflect the severity of the APN. Serum procalcitonin (PCT) has potential as a diagnostic tool in suspected bacterial infections and can distinguish between viral and bacterial urinary infections. Soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (SuPAR) might have a potential as a marker for acute bacterial infections requiring antibiotic treatment. However, there are no well-conducted studies which compare simultaneously all three biomarkers diagnostic abilities for bacterial infections in general or in relation to APN.

The investigators hypothesize that serum CRP, PTC and suPAR have an impact on diagnosing, prognosis, and treatment of patients with a verified APN.

The objectives of the study are:

• To investigate the diagnostic value of CRP, PCT and suPAR in the diagnosis of APN
• To identify the prognostic value of CRP, PCT and suPAR in relation to adverse events in patients with verified APN

Conditions

Acute Pyelonephritis

Study Design

• Observational Model Type: COHORT
• Study Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE

Study Groups

suspected acute pyelonephritis

All patients admitted to the emergency department with suspected acute pyelonephritis assessed by the receiving physician

Biomarkers for acute pyelonephritis

Intervention Type: DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Blood samples will be collected by a medical laboratory technologist and transferred to the local laboratory for analysis of CRP, PCT and suPAR. Laboratory staff will be blinded to participant diagnosis and outcome. CRP and PCT results will be available to the treating physician, but the suPAR result will not be available.

• Diagnostic test of CRP. CRP will be measured using an immunoturbidimetric assay (Tina-quant®, Roche) on Roche/Hitachi Cobas© systems.
• Diagnostic test of PCT: Plasma PCT will be quantified by an automated sandwich immunoassay "ECLIA" (Elecsys®, BRAHMS PCT-analyses) on Cobas© within two hours from collection according to standard procedure.
• Diagnostic test of suPAR: Plasma suPAR will be quantified by using the commercial available suPARnostic© Tubilatex assay reagents (ViroGates, Denmark) on Cobas© as previously validated (35). Separated plasma is kept refrigerated and analysed for suPAR within 48 hours after collection.

Interventions

Biomarkers for acute pyelonephritis

Blood samples will be collected by a medical laboratory technologist and transferred to the local laboratory for analysis of CRP, PCT and suPAR. Laboratory staff will be blinded to participant diagnosis and outcome. CRP and PCT results will be available to the treating physician, but the suPAR result will not be available.

• Diagnostic test of CRP. CRP will be measured using an immunoturbidimetric assay (Tina-quant®, Roche) on Roche/Hitachi Cobas© systems.
• Diagnostic test of PCT: Plasma PCT will be quantified by an automated sandwich immunoassay "ECLIA" (Elecsys®, BRAHMS PCT-analyses) on Cobas© within two hours from collection according to standard procedure.
• Diagnostic test of suPAR: Plasma suPAR will be quantified by using the commercial available suPARnostic© Tubilatex assay reagents (ViroGates, Denmark) on Cobas© as previously validated (35). Separated plasma is kept refrigerated and analysed for suPAR within 48 hours after collection.

Intervention Type: DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Suspicion of APN assessed by the receiving physician at the ED

Exclusion Criteria

• If the attending physician considers that participation will delay a life-saving treatment or patient needs direct transfer to the intensive care unit.
• Admission within the last 14 days
• Verified COVID-19 disease within 14 days before admission
• Pregnant women
• Severe immunodeficiencies: Primary immunodeficiencies and secondary immunodeficiencies (HIV positive CD4 <200, Patients receiving immunosuppressive treatment (ATC L04A), Corticosteroid treatment (>20 mg/day prednisone or equivalent for >14 days within the last 30 days), Chemotherapy within 30 days)

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

University of Southern Denmark

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Christian Backer Mogensen

Role: STUDY_CHAIR

Hospital of Southern Jutland

Locations

Hospital of Southern Jutland

Aabenraa, , Denmark

Countries

Denmark

References

Hamie L, Daoud G, Nemer G, Nammour T, El Chediak A, Uthman IW, Kibbi AG, Eid A, Kurban M. SuPAR, an emerging biomarker in kidney and inflammatory diseases. Postgrad Med J. 2018 Sep;94(1115):517-524. doi: 10.1136/postgradmedj-2018-135839. Epub 2018 Sep 3.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 30177549 (View on PubMed)

Schuetz P, Christ-Crain M, Muller B. Procalcitonin and other biomarkers to improve assessment and antibiotic stewardship in infections--hope for hype? Swiss Med Wkly. 2009 Jun 13;139(23-24):318-26. doi: 10.4414/smw.2009.12584.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 19529989 (View on PubMed)

Skjot-Arkil H, Heltborg A, Lorentzen MH, Cartuliares MB, Hertz MA, Graumann O, Rosenvinge FS, Petersen ERB, Ostergaard C, Laursen CB, Skovsted TA, Posth S, Chen M, Mogensen CB. Improved diagnostics of infectious diseases in emergency departments: a protocol of a multifaceted multicentre diagnostic study. BMJ Open. 2021 Sep 30;11(9):e049606. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-049606.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 34593497 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

SHS-ED-12c-2020

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id