Copeptin Predicts Mortality in Critically Ill Patients.

Background: Critically ill patients admitted to a medical intensive care unit exhibit a high mortality rate irrespective of the cause of admission. Besides its role in fluid and electrolyte balance, vasopressin has been described as a stress hormone. Copeptin, the C-terminal portion of provasopressin mirrors vasopressin levels and has been described as a reliable biomarker for the individual's stress level and was associated with outcome in various disease entities.

Monocyte subset distribution is associated with mortality in critically ill patients.

Although patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) suffer from various pathologies, many develop a systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). As key regulators of innate immunity, monocytes may be crucially involved in SIRS development. Monocytes can be distinguished into three subsets: Classical monocytes (CD14CD16; CM), non-classical monocytes (CD14CD16CCR2; NCM) and intermediate monocytes (CD14CD16CCR2; IM).