Correlational Analysis of Vitamin B12 as an Inflammatory Marker in Patients with Sepsis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51253/pafmj.v76iSUPPL-1.13297Keywords:
Cobalamin, C-reactive protein, Lactate, Mortality, SepsisAbstract
Objective: To investigate the correlation between serum Vitamin B12 levels and inflammatory markers in patients with sepsis.
Study Design: Cross-Sectional Study.
Place and Duration of Study: Department of General Medicine, Pakistan Emirates Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, from Sep 2024 to Jan 2025.
Methodology: Patients of both genders between 18 and 65 years of age who were admitted with sepsis or septic shock were included. Blood samples were drawn on the first and third days of admission for lactate, C-reactive protein, and vitamin B12 levels. The comparison was made between first day and third-day biochemical markers. The patients were labelled as survivors and non-survivors.
Results: This study included three hundred and fifteen patients (n=315) with male predominance 184(58.41%). Most patients had gastrointestinal tract infections 120(38.10%) as a source of sepsis, followed by respiratory tract infections 95(30.16%). There were 273(86.67%) survivors and 42(13.33%) non-survivors. There was a statistically substantial (p<0.001) difference between median serum vitamin B12 levels in survivors 892.00 (973.50-823.50) pg/ml and non-survivors 1035.50 (1157.25-926.25) pg/ml, highlighting the raised levels in the non-survivors group. The mortality rate was found to be positively correlated with Vitamin B12 (r=0.293), serum lactate (r=0.128), and CRP levels (r=0.157), highlighting the significant role of these markers in sepsis.
Conclusion: Higher vitamin B12 levels are linked to increased mortality in sepsis. Additionally, plasma lactate and C-reactive protein are also significant predictors of outcomes.
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