The Value of Signal Peptide-CUB-EGF Domain-containing Protein-1 (SCUBE1) in the Diagnosis of Pulmonary Embolism: A Preliminary Study

Abstract

Objectives: The diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE) in the emergency department still poses difficulties because symptoms and signs are nonspecific. There is a need for more reliable noninvasive diagnostic tests to support clinical suspicion before the costly invasive procedures with complication risks still used in the diagnosis of PE. Signal peptide-CUB (complement C1r/C1s, Uegf, and Bmp1)-EGF (epidermal growth factor) domain-containing protein 1 (SCUBE1) is a novel, secreted cell surface protein expressed during early embryogenesis. The goal of this study was to compare the SCUBE1 levels between PE patients and healthy subjects and also investigate the value of SCUBE1 in the diagnosis of PE.Methods: Eleven patients diagnosed with PE using spiral computerized tomographic pulmonary angiography were included in the study. A control group of 23 age-matched, healthy volunteers served as a reference for biochemical parameters.Results: Mean (AESD) SCUBE1 levels were 72.0 (AE32.6) ng/mL in the patients with PE and 31.4 (AE13.8) ng/ mL in the control group. SCUBE1 levels were significantly higher in the patients with PE (p = 0.001). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to determine cutoff thresholds in discriminating between PE and control group plasma SCUBE1 levels. Area under the ROC for that purpose was 0.862 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.70 to 1). A SCUBE1 cutoff point in patients with PE > 46 ng/mL had specificity and sensitivity of 91% (95% CI = 0.70% to 0.98%) and 82% (95% CI = 0.48% to 0.97%), respectively. Conclusions:This preliminary study suggests that plasma SCUBE1 values have a good level of specificity for PE and may be of use in the diagnosis of PE. Further studies involving larger case series and also clinical studies are needed to corroborate these findings.ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2015;22:922-926 © 2015 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine P ulmonary embolism (PE) is a common and potentially life-threatening disorder. Diagnosis of PE in the emergency department (ED) still poses difficulties because symptoms and signs are nonspecific.

The diagnostic significance of signal peptide-complement C1r/C1s, Uegf, and Bmp1-epidermal growth factor domain-containing protein-1 levels in pulmonary embolism

“…SCUBE1 revealed 91% specificity and 82% sensitivity in patients with PE. [ 9 ] In our study, SCUBE1 levels were higher in the PE group than in the non-PE and control groups. A cutoff point of 0.49 ng/mL for SCUBE1 indicated 100% sensitivity and 64% specificity in patients with PE.…”

Investigation of Serum SCUBE-1 Level in Relation to Microvascular Complications in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

“…21 Ülkemizde, yeni tanı almış 11 pulmoner emboli (PE) hastasının, 23 kontrol bireyi ile karşılaştırıldığı çalışmada, PE'li hastalarda ortalama SCUBE-1 düzeyi kontrol grubuna kıyasla anlamlı derecede yüksek bulunmuştur. 22 Hemodiyaliz hastalarında yapılan bir çalışmada ise SCUBE-1 düzeylerinin, hemodiyaliz hastalarında sağlıklı gruba göre ve hemodiyaliz seanslarının sonunda başlangıç düzeylerine göre anlamlı derece yüksek olduğu görülmüştür. Araştırmacılar, bu durumun trombositlerin diyaliz membranı gibi yüzeylerle teması sonrası aktive olduğu kanaatine varmışlardır.…”

The value of plasma SCUBE1 and oxidative stress parameters in the early diagnosis of acute ovarian torsion

“…SCUBE1 is a reliable marker of platelet activation. Previous studies have shown that SCUBE1 levels increase under conditions of platelet activation and aggregation resulting in ischemic complications (12,13,15). Turkmen et al determined that SCUBE1 levels increase rapidly in the 2nd h following acute mesenteric ischemia, rising significantly by 6 h, while Turedi et al showed that SCUBE1 increase signifi cantly 4 h after testicular torsion (15,17).…”

“…These molecules are deposited inside alpha granules in inactivated platelets, are translocated to the platelet surface following activation by thrombin, are released in the form of small soluble particles, and are incorporated into thrombus (12). Previous studies have determined that SCUBE1 increases in conditions resulting in platelet activation and ischemic complications, such as acute pulmonary embolism, acute ischemic stroke, and acute testicular torsion (13)(14)(15).…”