Abstract
BACKGROUND: The serum levels of presepsin correlate with parameters indicating cholestasis in sepsis; however, the probability and significance of this association remain uncertain. We aimed to ascertain whether infection, as signaled by presepsin levels, is the primary determinant of elevated biliary parameters in sepsis. METHODS: A unicenter, retrospective study included 396 COVID-free emergency-admitted patients, in which presepsin level was determined. Presepsin, neutrophil count, leukocyte count, C reactive protein, and fibrinogen evaluated the septic/inflammatory state. The statistically significant factors associated with cholestasis, ALT, and AST were analyzed by Fisher's exact test and Spearman regression with Bonferroni's correction. RESULTS: Presepsin emerged as the most likely variable correlated with all cholestasis markers: alkaline phosphatase (p = 7 × 10(-8)), gamma-glutamyl transferase (p = 5 × 10(-10)), and conjugated bilirubin (p = 4 × 10(-15)). Thrombocyte count, C reactive protein, age, creatinine, urea, lactate, and blood pressure, were associated with only one or two of these markers. CONCLUSIONS: In a sepsis setting, the increase in cholestasis-related parameters is associated with presepsin with a higher probability than hemodynamic, inflammatory, or coagulation-related variables. Determining this robust link between sepsis and cholestasis could eliminate unnecessary imaging procedures in critically ill patients, enabling clinicians to focus efforts on addressing the primary infectious cause.