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Serum levels of PTEN and progranulin as potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for severe pneumonia in the elderly

biochemistry
evidence-based-medicine
geriatrics
infectious-diseases
respiratory-medicine

Abstract

Background: Severe pneumonia presents a critical challenge in clinical settings, especially for elderly patients. This study investigates the diagnostic and prognostic potential of serum Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog Deleted on Chromosome Ten (PTEN) and Progranulin in this population. Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of PTEN and Progranulin as biomarkers for differentiating severe pneumonia from common pneumonia in elderly patients, aiming to enhance clinical practice. Methods: A comparative study involving 90 elderly patients with severe pneumonia (Observation Group) and 90 elderly patients with common pneumonia (Control Group) was conducted, tracking them for 28 days post-admission. According to the survival outcome, the Observation Group is further divided into the Survival Group and the Deceased Group, among which the Survival Group included 51 Patients, the Deceased Group included 39 patients. White blood cell counts, albumin, procalcitonin, C-reactive protein (CRP), and serum levels of PTEN and Progranulin were measured. Spearman‌ correlation analysis was used to assess correlations between PTEN and Progranulin levels. The diagnostic efficacy of PTEN and Progranulin was assessed using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves. Mortality factors were analyzed through univariate and multivariate logistic regression. Results: Patients with severe pneumonia exhibited significantly higher levels of white blood cells, CRP, procalcitonin, PTEN, and Progranulin (P<0.05), while albumin levels were lower (P<0.05). PTEN has a moderately positive correlation with Progranulin. The combined use of PTEN and Progranulin yielded a higher Area Under Curve (AUC) of 0.887 for diagnosis. Elevated CRP and Progranulin levels were linked to worse outcomes, and Progranulin was regarded as a novel independent risk factor for death. Conclusion: Serum PTEN and Progranulin are promising diagnostic biomarkers for severe pneumonia in elderly patients, with Progranulin being particularly significant for prognostic monitoring.
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