Serum SOD1 level predicts the severity and prognosis of community-acquired pneumonia patients

Abstract Background: Superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) is one of the most important participants of antioxidant enzyme system in biological system. Previous studies have found that SOD1 is associated with many inflammatory diseases. The goal of this study was to assess the associations of serum SOD1 with the severity and prognosis in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) patients by a prospective cohort study. Methods: CAP patients were enrolled from the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University. Peripheral blood samples were gathered. The level of serum SOD1 was detected through enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Clinical characteristics and demographic information were analyzed. Results: The level of serum SOD1 was gradually upregulated with elevated CAP severity scores. Spearman correlation coefficient or Pearson rank correlation analyses indicated that serum was strongly connected with many clinical parameters among CAP patients. Further logistic regression found that serum was positively associated with APACHE Ⅱ and CURB-65 scores among CAP patients. Moreover, serum higher SOD1 substantially increased the risks of ICU admission, mechanical ventilation, vasoactive agent usage, death, and longer hospital stays during hospitalization. Conclusion: The level of serum SOD1 is positively associated with the severity and poor prognosis in CAP patients, suggesting that SOD1 is implicated in the initiation and progression of CAP. Serum SOD1 may be severed as a biomarker to appraise the severity and prognosis for CAP patients.