Intestinal fatty acid-binding protein level as a predictor of 28-day mortality and bowel ischemia in patients with septic shock: A preliminary study

Abstract

Purpose: We sought to evaluate the levels of intestinal fatty acid-binding protein (I-FABP), a biomarker of enterocyte injury, as a predictor of 28-day mortality and bowel ischemia in septic shock patients.

Material and methods: In this preliminary prospective observational study, 57 adult septic shock patients under mechanical ventilation were enrolled. Serum I-FABP levels and prognostic biomarkers were recorded upon intensive care unit (ICU) admission.

Results: The overall 28-day mortality rate of participants was 23% (13/57). Non-survivors displayed significantly higher lactate (p=0.009), I-FABP (p=0.012), and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (p=0.039) levels compared to survivors. Only I-FABP was associated with 28-day mortality (odds ratio, 1.036; 95% confidence interval, 1.003-1.069; p=0.031) in a multiple logistic regression analysis adjusted for the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score. When divided into low and high I-FABP groups based on the optimum cut-off value of 19.0ng/mL for predicting 28-day mortality, high-I-FABP patients had a significantly higher incidence of non-occlusive mesenteric ischemia (NOMI) (2% [1/43] vs 29% [4/14]; p=0.011).

Conclusions: I-FABP level at ICU admission can serve as a predictor of 28-day mortality in septic shock patients and is associated with the incidence of NOMI.

Keywords: Bowel ischemia; Intensive care unit; Intestinal fatty acid-binding protein; Mortality; Multiple organ failure; Septic shock.