suPAR: A newer biomarker of systemic chronic inflammation
suPAR provides a more stable biomarker of systemic chronic inflammation than CRP or IL-6 and is less subject to the influence of acute infection and environmental exposures.
Exposure to adverse life experiences associates with increased morbidity and mortality from a range of diseases in later life. Growing evidence suggests that systemic inflammation may contribute to these relationships, with early childhood adversity and stressful life experiences in adulthood.
Higher suPAR levels predict poorer prognosis across conditions, accelerated biological aging, and mortality both in clinical and healthy populations. In sum, suPAR is recognized as a nonspecific marker of systemic chronic inflammation that is common to many inflammatory diseases and may serve as a marker of health risk in the general population.
Conclusion:
suPAR is an exciting new biomarker that may provide a more stable measure of systemic chronic inflammation and supplement more traditional markers of inflammation in the prediction of health risk.
European Medicines Agency authorisation:
suPAR-measured Kineret® treatment is authorised by the European Medicines Agency across the EU for COVID-19 in adult patients with pneumonia requiring supplemental oxygen, who are at risk of developing severe respiratory failure.
Administration of the treatment protocol is determined by measuring suPAR levels, which must result in at least 6 ng per mL before initiation.
Kineret® is an immunosuppressive drug. It is currently authorised in the EU for the treatment of various inflammatory conditions. In COVID-19 patients, the medicine is considered to reduce the inflammation associated with COVID-19 and thus decrease lower airway damage, preventing development of severe respiratory failure.
Early treatment of COVID-19 with anakinra guided by suPAR plasma levels: a double-blind, randomized controlled phase 3 trial
Key highlights from the study:
• Results showed a 70% decrease in the relative risk of progression to severe respiratory failure and a significant reduction in 28-d mortality with anakinra treatment compared to standard of care.
• Relative decrease of mortality was 55%, reaching 80% for patients with cytokine storm.
• Average time until hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) discharge was reduced by one to four days.
