Study of serum ferritin as diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for severity of sepsis: a hospital-based study

Background: The objective of the study was to evaluate serum ferritin levels to define it as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for severity of sepsis. Methods: In this hospital-based descriptive type of observational study, conducted at the Department of Pediatrics, NIMS Medical College; 80 children of age group 6 months to 18 years with diagnosis of pediatric sepsis were included. Children were divided into grades of sepsis (sepsis, severe sepsis, septic shock, MODS). Progress of sepsis, severe sepsis, septic shock, and sepsis with MODS was followed with serum ferritin levels on day 1, day 3, day 7, or more than 7 days and one week post recovery. Results: Pneumonia was identified as the most common source of infection. The blood culture positivity rate was 32.5%. E. coli was the most common organism grown on blood culture. Median serum ferritin levels increased as sepsis severity worsened. A significant association was discovered between sepsis severity and CRP levels at the time of admission. Conclusions: There is a consistent pattern of Serum ferritin levels with increasing severity of pediatric sepsis. Routine use of serum ferritin levels in diagnosis and prognostication is both feasible and simple. CRP level correlate well with serum ferritin level for diagnosis of sepsis.