Copeptin: Disease Severity Indicator

Summary

Copeptin serves as a biomarker emanating from the pituitary gland, functioning as the precursor to arginine vasopressin (AVP). Its role in the regulation of endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, and water-electrolyte balance has been established. The measurement of AVP levels poses challenges due to its brief half-life and the intricate nature of its detection method. In contrast, copeptin provides an indirect means of gauging circulating AVP levels, as it can be conveniently assessed through a sandwich immunoassay. As a neuroendocrine stress hormone, copeptin emerges as a prognostic indicator, reflective of an individual's stress burden. Moreover, its applicability extends to various acute conditions such as ischemic stroke or myocardial infarction. Notably, copeptin proves to be a dependable tool in the differential diagnosis of diverse ailments characterized by polyuria and polydipsia.

Lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) stands as the predominant cause of morbidity and mortality among children and adolescents globally. Notably, copeptin has demonstrated utility in forecasting the severity and complications associated with severe pneumonia in adults. While early investigations into copeptin's role in pediatric LRTI suggest its potential for diagnosing pneumonia and predicting complications, the outcomes of these studies present conflicting results.

Although there has been a notable increase in studies on copeptin in pediatric patients over the past decade, research specifically exploring its correlation with pneumonia remains scarce. This prospective case-control study is designed to investigate the potential association between copeptin levels and the severity of illness in pediatric patients with pneumonia. The study aims to determine whether copeptin levels can serve as a reliable predictor of disease severity in pneumonia, offering valuable insights for clinical application. The outcomes of this research may contribute significantly to our comprehension of copeptin's role in disease prognosis and management, thereby facilitating the development of more efficacious diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. Additionally, the study seeks to identify the factors influencing copeptin levels and establish a cut-off value for copeptin in pediatric patients diagnosed with pneumonia.

Conditions

• Lower Respiratory Tract and Lung Infections
• Ventilator Lung
• Bronchopneumonia
• Bronchitis

Interventions

DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Copeptin level measurement

Throughout the study period, a total of 202 eligible patients were admitted to the hospital. Twenty-four patients were excluded due to lack of consent from their families, and an additional 103 patients were excluded based on the predefined exclusion criteria. In the control group, 72 individuals without chronic or acute diseases were initially eligible, but 46 of them were excluded due to lack of consent from their families. The study included patients who met the inclusion criteria and whose families provided consent, and it concluded upon reaching a total of 25 patients for each group. Additional blood samples were collected from each child within every group to assess copeptin levels, in conjunction with routine tests

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Berker Okay

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

DIAGNOSTIC

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

1 Month

Max Age

5 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2023-04-12

Primary Completion

2023-10-02

Completion

2023-11-02

Countries

• Turkey (Türkiye)

Study Locations