Background
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) constitutes a clinical phenotype of severe lung injury associated with many causes. Endothelial activation and injury is a component of ARDS. The release of von Willebrand factor (vWF) indicates direct endothelial cell damage has occurred, and this can be used as a marker of endothelium injury. The aim of the study was to investigate the diagnostic value of vWF antigen as a determinant of early detection of ARDS in comparison to interleukin-6 (IL-6) as a control biomarker. vWF antigen and IL-6 were measured in 60 patients who were at risk of developing ARDS on T0 (at the start of the study), T48 (after 48 h), and T72 (after 72 h).
Results
Higher vWF Ag levels were seen in patients at risk of developing ARDS with direct cause of lung injury than those with indirect causes. Include groups I and II. There was a highly significant increase between the “at risk of developing ARDS” patients, VWF Ag, and IL-6 levels. The results were recorded at T0 (i.e., at start of the study baseline reading), T48 (after 48 h), and T72 (after 72 h), 0.001 and 0.05, respectively. A value of vWF Ag of 447% on the 3rd day of ARDS showed a sensitivity of 94.9% and specificity 56.7% compared to IL-6 at 246 pg/ml with 79.5% sensitivity and 52.4% specificity. As a comparison between VWF and IL6 levels among ARDS patients, they both show statistical correlation together.
Conclusion
The results of our study point out to VWF as a sensitive and good diagnostic marker for ARDS diagnosis.