The Role of Pro-Adrenomedullin as a Marker of Severe Bacterial Infection in Children: A Review

Abstract

Sepsis is still related to high mortality and hospitalization rates in the paediatric population despite medical progress. Prompt recognition of sepsis and consequent initiation of an appropriate treatment are essential elements in securing a positive outcome in adults and children. In such scenario, various biomarkers have been studied to support the clinician in the diagnosis of severe infections, in the identification of patients at risk of progression towards sepsis as well as in the evaluation of the response to treatment. In children, the performance of C-reactive protein and procalcitonin has been largely investigated, whereas data on newer biomarkers of sepsis are scant. The aim of the present review is to summarise the available data on the use of pro-adrenomedullin in the paediatric age.