Citation

Erenler AK, Yardan T, Baydin A, Gunay M, Amanvermez R. Am. J. Emerg. Med. 2013; 31(8): 1165-1169.

Affiliation

Hitit University, Çorum Education and Research Hospital, Department of Emergency Medicine, Çorum, Turkey.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.ajem.2013.04.005

PMID

23809096

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the role of serum heart-type fatty acid-binding protein (H-FABP) in the evaluation of patients with carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. METHODS: Forty patients with acute CO poisoning admitted to the emergency department and 15 healthy adults as the control group were included in the study. Serum H-FABP levels of patients were studied on admission and at the 6th, 12th, and 18th hours. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to clinical severity as mild, moderate, and severe. Patients were also divided into 2 groups according to treatment with hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) or normobaric oxygen. RESULTS: Serum H-FABP levels of the patients were higher than those of the control group. There was a negative correlation between H-FABP levels and Glasgow Coma Scale score on admission. Heart-type fatty acid-binding protein levels were significantly higher in patients in the severe compared with mild group. Heart-type fatty acid-binding protein levels in patients treated with HBO were significantly higher than in those treated with normobaric oxygen. The cutoff value of serum H-FABP as an indicator for HBO treatment was determined as 1.5 ng/mL or higher, with a sensitivity of 85.7% and specificity of 69.7%. Serial measurement revealed that H-FABP level peaked at the sixth hour and reduced over time but remained higher than in the control group at the 18th hour. CONCLUSION: Heart-type fatty acid-binding protein may be a promising novel biomarker in the evaluation of clinical severity and in the selection of patients for HBO therapy in acute CO poisoning.

Language: en