Transthyretin and the Systemic Inflammatory Response

Author: Bernstein, Larry H.

Source: Current Nutrition & Food Science, Volume 5, Number 1, February 2009 , pp. 71-74(4)

Publisher: Bentham Science Publishers

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Abstract:

Background: Transthyretin has been widely used as a biomarker for identifying protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) and for monitoring the improvement of nutritional status after implementing a nutritional intervention by enteral feeding or by parenteral infusion. This has occurred because transthyretin (TTR) has a rapid removal from the circulation in 48 hours and it is readily measured by immunometric assay. Nevertheless, concerns have been raised about the use of TTR in the ICU setting, which prompts a review of the actual benefit of using this test in a number of settings. TTR is easily followed in the underweight and the high risk populations in an ambulatory setting, which has a significant background risk of chronic diseases. It is sensitive to the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), and needs to be understood in the context of acute illness to be used effectively. There are a number of physiologic changes associated with SIRS and the injury/repair process that will affect TTR and will be put in context in this review. The most important point is that in the context of an ICU setting, the contribution of TTR is significant in a complex milieu.

Keywords: Tranthyretin; systemic inflammatory response syndrome; protein-energy malnutrition; catabolism; repair

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/157340109787314695

Publication date: 2009-02-01

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Current Nutrition & Food Science publishes frontier reviews on all the latest advances on basic and clinical nutrition and food sciences. The journal's aim is to publish the highest quality review articles dedicated to research in the field. The journal is essential reading for all nutrition and food scientists.