# The significance of serum sST2 and cfDNA in children with severe pneumonia complicated by myocardial damage

## TL;DR

This study explores how serum sST2 and cfDNA levels can predict heart function in children with severe pneumonia and heart damage.

## Contribution

The study identifies sST2 and cfDNA as potential biomarkers for predicting cardiac outcomes in children with severe pneumonia and myocardial damage.

## Key findings

- Elevated sST2 and cfDNA levels correlate with cardiac function parameters like LVEDd and LVESd.
- Higher biomarker levels are linked to lower likelihood of improvement and higher readmission rates.
- Multivariate analysis confirms the association between biomarkers and cardiac outcomes.

## Abstract

The paper aimed to explore the significance of serum soluble ST2 (sST2) and circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) in predicting cardiac functions in children with severe pneumonia complicated by myocardial damage.

This case series study evaluated the serum sST2 and cfDNA levels of 60 children with severe pneumonia complicated by myocardial damage, assessing clinical data, biomarker levels, and cardiac function.

We analyzed data from a cohort of 60 patients with a mean age of 4.47±1.88 years and a male: female ratio of 28:32. At baseline, patients had elevated levels of serum biomarkers, including sST2 and cfDNA, which were associated with cardiac function parameters and clinical outcomes. After 6 months, patients showed significant correlations between sST2, cfDNA, and cardiac function parameters, including left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDd), left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVESd), and E/A ratio. Multivariate analysis revealed that higher levels of sST2 and cfDNA were associated with increased LVEDd, LVESd, and E/A ratio, as well as a lower likelihood of improvement and a higher likelihood of 6-month readmission.

These findings suggest that sST2 and cfDNA may be useful biomarkers for predicting cardiac function and outcomes in this patient population.