Prognostic role of serum uric acid in acute respiratory distress syndrome patients: A preliminary study

BackgroundARDS mortality is still high, many biomarkers had been used to predict the mortality but they may have many drawbacks because of its validity, complications and cost.Study designObservational study was planned to evaluate the predictive role of serum uric acid level in ARDS outcome. Mortality was the primary end-point while secondary endpoints included total ICU stay, duration of mechanical ventilation and the presence or absence of complications.AimThe aim of this work is to study the role of serum uric acid level as an outcome predictor in ARDS patients.Patients and methodsThirty three ARDS patients were enrolled in this study according to Berlin 2012 definition. Patients with diabetes mellitus, chronic renal failure, cardiovascular disorders, decompensated liver disease and known malignancies were excluded from the study. On admission to ICU serum uric acid level was investigated.ResultsSensitivity and specificity of uric acid as an outcome predictor at a cut off of 8.4 mg/dl were 89% and 80% respectively; the area under curve was 0.88 with p value <0.001, mortality in a high uric acid group that reported to be 86.7% was statistically significant higher than the normal uric acid group 38.9%.ConclusionSerum uric acid level at 8.4 mg/dl cut off point predicts mortality in ARDS patients with 89% sensitivity and 80% specificity.