Predictive value of copeptin as a severity marker of community-acquired pneumonia

BACKGROUND: Pneumonia is the leading cause of death in children. Few studies have explored the predictive value of copeptin in pediatric pneumonia. AIM: This study aimed to assess the role of copeptin as a marker of severity of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). METHODS: This prospective case-control study was carried out at Minia University Children’s Hospital in Minia (Egypt) from January to December 2016. Eighty children aged from 2 months to 42 months were enrolled in this study and were classified into group 1 (40 children with clinical, laboratory and radiological evidence of pneumonia) and group 2 (40 apparently healthy control). Serum copeptin level was assayed for all enrolled children. RESULTS: Mean serum copeptin level was significantly higher in pneumonic patients (985.7±619) pg/ml compared to controls (519±308.2) pg/ml (p<0.001). Serum copeptin was significantly elevated in survivors of pneumonia more than non-survivors (p=0.001). Also, copeptin was significantly higher in the group of non-survivors (1811.8±327.1) compared to 745.4±472.5 for survivors (p=0.01). There was a significant positive correlation between serum copeptin levels and the degree of respiratory distress (p=0.02). CONCLUSION: Copeptin seems a reliable and available predictor marker for assessing the severity and prognosis of pediatric community acquired pneumonia.