Utility of neutrophil CD64 in distinguishing bacterial infection from inflammation in severe alcoholic hepatitis fulfilling SIRS criteria

To assess utility of neutrophilCD64 (nCD64) expression in differentiating bacterial infection from inflammation in patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis (SAH) fulfilling systemic inflammatory response syndrome criteria. Patients with SAH and infection (n = 58), SAH without infection (n = 70), and healthy controls (n = 20) were included. Neutrophil CD64 expression by flowcytometry, serum Procalcitonin (ELISA) and C-reactive protein (Nephelometry) and neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR) were studied. Percentage of neutrophils with CD64 expression (nCD64%) was significantly higher in patients with SAH and infection than in those without infection and controls [76.2% (56.9–86.5) vs. 16% (12.6–23.1) vs. 7.05% (1.4–9.5), p < 0.05], as was their mean fluorescence intensity [MFI; 1431 (229–1828) vs. 853 (20–968) vs. 99.5 (54.7–140.7), p < 0.05]. Using a cut-off of 27%, the sensitivity and specificity of nCD64% to diagnose bacterial infection was 94% and 81%, respectively, with area under curve (AUC) of 0.95. At a cut-off value of 0.261 ng/ml, the sensitivity and specificity of serum procalcitonin was 83% and 72%, respectively, with AUC of 0.86. Serum CRP, total leukocyte count, NLR had AUCs of 0.78, 0.63 and 0.64, respectively. Quantitative measurement of nCD64 can better distinguish systemic bacterial infection and inflammation in SAH as compared to traditional biomarkers.

Elevated Pretreatment Plasma Oncostatin M Is Associated With Poor Biochemical Response to Infliximab

Background We hypothesized that elevations of plasma Oncostatin M (OSM) would be associated with infliximab nonresponse. Methods Plasma OSM was measured in Crohn disease patients pre-infliximab with biochemical response (&gt;50% reduction in fecal calprotectin) as the primary outcome. Results The median OSM in biochemical responders was 86 (69–148) pg/mL compared with 166 (74–1766) pg/mL in nonresponders (P = 0.03). Plasma OSM &gt; 143.5 pg/mL was 71% sensitive and 78% specific for biochemical nonresponse (area under the curve 0.71). Early biochemical nonremission was also associated with an elevated neutrophil CD64 expression (odds ratio 8.9, P = 0.011). Conclusions Elevated preinfliximab plasma OSM and nCD64 surface expression were both associated with poor biochemical outcomes.