Copeptin: Disease Severity Indicator
Condition: Lower Respiratory Tract and Lung Infections; Ventilator Lung; Bronchopneumonia; Lobar Pneumonia
MeSH terms: Pneumonia; Bronchopneumonia
Study type: Interventional

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.
    


Intervention name(s): Copeptin level measurement
Intervention type(s): Diagnostic Test
Intervention description(s): 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
Intervention MeSH terms: Arginine Vasopressin
Allocation: Non-Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Intervention model description: Blood tests were taken from all children included in the study to study the biomarker called 'Copeptin'.
Masking: Single (Outcomes Assessor)
Primary purpose: Diagnostic