Changes in serum citrullinated fibrinogen concentration associated with the phase of bacteremia patients

Abstract

Background: Citrullinated fibrinogen (C-Fbg) has been detected in rheumatoid arthritis; however, few studies have reported the role of C-Fbg in other inflammatory diseases. This study aimed to clarify the changes in serum C-Fbg associated with the bacteremia phase.

Methods: We measured serum C-Fbg concentration in bacteremia patients. C-Fbg levels at each phase of bacteremia, classified by white blood cell (WBC) count and neutrophil left shift change, were compared with those of healthy control (HC). The correlation between C-Fbg concentration and certain inflammatory markers, or citrullinated histone H3 concentration was assessed. Multiple linear regression (MLR) analysis was used to examine the association of log C-Fbg with certain inflammatory markers.

Result: Serum C-Fbg levels were significantly higher in bacteremia patients than in HC (p < 0.001) and positively correlated with WBC and neutrophil count. Further, C-Fbg levels were significantly higher in phases III and IV of bacteremia than in HC (p < 0.001). MLR analysis indicated that log C-Fbg had a stronger relationship with log neutrophil counts than other certain inflammatory markers (p < 0.01).

Conclusion: Serum C-Fbg levels increased in bacteremia patients, and this was consistent with an influx of neutrophils into the blood stream in accordance with the bacteremia phase.

Keywords: Bacteremia; Citrullinated fibrinogen; Citrullinated histone H3; Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; Neutrophil extracellular traps; Peptidyl arginine deiminase.