Evaluation of urinary prostaglandin E2 metabolite as a biomarker in infants with fever due to viral infection

Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. 2014 Dec;91(6):269-75. doi: 10.1016/j.plefa.2014.09.006. Epub 2014 Sep 28.

Abstract

We have investigated the clinical feasibility of the major urinary metabolite of prostaglandin (PG) E2, tetranor-PGEM, as a biomarker of inflammation in infants with fever. We tested two different and clinically relevant sampling methods, using self-adhesive urinary bags or gauze pads, with respect to stability of tetranor-PGEM and ease of sampling from infants. Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis was used to quantify tetranor-PGEM in urine, and different normalization parameters, i.e., urinary creatinine and body surface area, were investigated. To study inflammation, infants (1 month-1 year) that were hospitalized with fever of unknown origin at admittance (n=14) were compared to age-matched healthy controls (n=14). Levels of urinary tetranor-PGEM in infants with viral induced fever were increased compared to controls (102.4±56.2 vs. 37.0±21.6pmol/ml/m(2) body surface area, p<0.001). We conclude that urinary tetranor-PGEM is a potential non-invasive biomarker of inflammation in infants.

Keywords: Biomarker; Fever; Infants; Inflammation; Prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)); Urine.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers / urine*
  • Chromatography, Liquid
  • Dinoprostone / metabolism
  • Female
  • Fever / urine
  • Fever / virology*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Prostaglandins / urine*
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry
  • Virus Diseases / urine*

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Prostaglandins
  • tetranor prostaglandin M
  • Dinoprostone