Angiopoietin-2 as a Predictor of Mortality in Critically Ill Patients
Author Information
Author(s): Philipp Kümpers, Alexander Lukasz, Sascha David, Rüdiger Horn, Carsten Hafer, Robert Faulhaber-Walter, Danilo Fliser, Hermann Haller, Jan T. Kielstein
Primary Institution: Hannover Medical School
Hypothesis
Does circulating Ang-1 and/or Ang-2 independently predict mortality in critically ill medical patients?
Conclusion
High levels of circulating Ang-2 are a strong independent predictor of 30-day survival in critically ill medical patients.
Supporting Evidence
- Ang-2 levels were significantly higher in critically ill patients compared to healthy controls.
- Ang-2 correlated with severity of illness as measured by APACHE II and SOFA scores.
- High Ang-2 levels predicted a three-fold increase in mortality risk.
Takeaway
This study found that high levels of a protein called Ang-2 in the blood can help doctors predict if critically ill patients will survive.
Methodology
The study measured serum levels of Ang-1, Ang-2, and VEGF in critically ill patients and healthy controls, and analyzed their correlation with 30-day survival.
Limitations
The sample size was small and findings may not apply to surgical patients.
Participant Demographics
43 critically ill medical patients, with a median age of 51 years, including 25 males and 18 females.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.001
Confidence Interval
95% CI = 0.65 to 0.93
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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