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Febrile neutropenia (FN) is a common consequence of intensive chemotherapy in hematological patients. More than 90% of the patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) develop FN, and 5%-10% of them die from subsequent sepsis. FN is very common also in autologous stem cell transplant recipients, but the risk of death is lower than in AML patients. In this review, we discuss biomarkers that have been evaluated for diagnostic and prognostic purposes in hematological patients with FN. In general, novel biomarkers have provided little benefit over traditional inflammatory biomarkers, such as C-reactive protein and procalcitonin. The utility of most biomarkers in hematological patients with FN has been evaluated in only a few small studies. Although some of them appear promising, much more data is needed before they can be implemented in the clinical evaluation of FN patients. Currently, close patient follow-up is key to detect complicated course of FN and the need for further interventions such as intensive care unit admission. Scoring systems such as q-SOFA (Quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment) or NEWS (National Early Warning Sign) combined with traditional and/or novel biomarkers may provide added value in the clinical evaluation of FN patients., (© 2024 The Author(s). European Journal of Haematology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objectives: To evaluate quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) score during febrile neutropenia (FN) in adult patients receiving intensive chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia (AML)., Methods: qSOFA score, as well as the association of qSOFA score with ICU admission, infectious mortality, blood culture findings, and C-reactive protein (CRP) measurements during FN were assessed among 125 adult AML patients with 355 FN periods receiving intensive chemotherapy in a tertiary care hospital from November 2006 to December 2018., Results: The multivariate model for qSOFA score ≥ 2 included CRP ≥ 150 mg/L on d0-2 [OR 2.9 (95% CI 1.1-7.3), P = .026], Gram-negative bacteremia [OR 2.7 (95% CI 1.1-6.9), P = .034], and treatment according to AML-2003 vs more recent protocols [OR 2.7 (95% CI 1.0-7.4), P = .047]. Age or gender did not gain significance in the model. qSOFA score ≥ 2 was associated with ICU treatment and infectious mortality during FN with sensitivity and specificity of 0.700 and 0.979, and 1.000 and 0.971, respectively., Conclusion: qSOFA offers a useful tool to evaluate the risk of serious complications in AML patients during FN., (© 2020 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objective: The study aim was to compare the performance of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) to C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) in early prediction of the clinical course of febrile neutropenia., Methods: The study population consisted of 86 consecutive patients with febrile neutropenia who received intensive chemotherapy for haematological malignancy between November 2009 and November 2012 at the adult haematology ward of Kuopio University Hospital. Twenty-three (27%) patients had acute myeloid leukaemia and 63 (73%) patients were autologous stem cell transplant recipients. IL-1Ra, CRP and procalcitonin were measured at the onset of fever (d0), on day 1 (d1) and on day 2 (d2)., Results: Eight patients developed severe sepsis, including three patients with septic shock. Eighteen patients had bacteraemia. After the onset of febrile neutropenia Youden´s indices (with their 95% confidence intervals) to identify severe sepsis were for IL-1Ra on d0 0.57 (0.20-0.71) and on d1 0.65 (0.28-0.78), for CRP on d0 0.41 (0.04-0.61) and on d1 0.47 (0.11-0.67) and for PCT on d0 0.39 (0.05-0.66) and on d1 0.52 (0.18-0.76)., Conclusions: In haematological patients, IL-1Ra has a comparable capacity with CRP and PCT to predict severe sepsis at the early stages of febrile neutropenia., (© 2018 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objectives: This study aimed at assessing the cut-off levels for pentraxin 3 (PTX3) in predicting complications of neutropenic fever (bacteraemia, septic shock) in haematological patients., Methods: A prospective study during 2006-2009 was performed at haematology ward in Kuopio University Hospital. A patient was eligible for the study if having neutropenic fever after intensive therapy for acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) (n = 32) or non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) (n = 35). Blood cultures were taken, and maximal PTX3 and C-reactive protein (CRP) were evaluated during d0 to d3 from the beginning of fever onset., Results: The level of PTX3 was associated with both the underlying malignancy and the presence of complications, with highest level in NHL patients with complicated course of febrile neutropenia and lowest in AML patients with non-complicated course. The cut-off level of PTX3 to predict complications was ten-fold in patients with NHL (115 μg/L) in comparison with patients with AML (11.5 μg/L). In combined analysis based on separate cut-offs, PTX3 predicted complications of febrile neutropenia with sensitivity of 0.86, specificity of 0.83, positive predictive value of 0.57 and negative predictive value of 0.96., Conclusions:   PTX3 was superior to CRP in predicting complicated course of febrile neutropenia, but only when the effect of the underlying malignancy had been taken into account., (© 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S.)

Objectives: Hepcidin is the key regulator of iron homeostasis. The aims of this study were to determine serum hepcidin concentrations and reference ranges in pregnant women and cord blood of newborns at term and to evaluate the associations between hepcidin concentrations and iron status parameters., Methods: A total of 191 pregnant women-newborn pairs were studied in Kuopio University Hospital, Finland. The measured parameters were serum hepcidin, ferritin, transferrin receptor, transferrin saturation, red cell indices, and erythropoietin., Results: The hepcidin concentration in pregnant women was significantly lower than in cord blood at term [geometric mean concentration (GMC) (95% confidence intervals) in pregnant women 10.7 ng/mL (8.5-13.4 ng/mL) vs. GMC of cord blood hepcidin 69.3 ng/mL (55.3-86.8 ng/mL), P<0.001, adjusted analysis of variance]. Hepcidin was undetectable in 12% of mothers. Hepcidin concentration in pregnant women was the lowest in those who had the lowest iron status. However, maternal hepcidin concentration was not associated with cord blood hepcidin or iron status markers. Hepcidin concentration in cord blood was associated with cord blood iron status, but not with maternal iron status., Conclusions: At term pregnancy, hepcidin concentrations are very low, allowing maximal availability of iron for the fetus. Maternal and cord blood hepcidin levels were independently associated with either maternal or cord blood iron status., (© 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S.)