suPAR as a risk Prediction Biomarker in Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation

Abstract

suPAR is a promising biomarker of cardiovascular diseases, as it reflects “low-grade inflammation” and is associated with lifestyle factors such as smoking, alcohol, and an inactive lifestyle. suPAR is expressed in various cells involved in the development of atherosclerosis, including macrophages, endothelial cells, and smooth muscle cells, and an accumulation of suPAR in the atheroma has also been found. suPAR plays a role in the coagulation cascade during plasminogen activation and fibrinolysis. This abstract provides description of three case series showing the utility of suPAR as a risk prediction biomarker on VA extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). We used SUPAR in 15 patients undergoing cardiac surgery of which three went on VA ECMO. Herein, we describe in detail three such patients and discuss each with good review of the literature.