To investigate the prognostic value of early plasma DNA and its clearance rate among patients with cardiogenic shock.

A prospective study was performed in 43 patients with cardiogenic shock admitted to our EICU from June 2012 to August 2015. The plasma DNA levels were detected at 0 h, 24 h and 48 h after diagnosis of cardiogenic shock. According to the outcome of cardiogenic shock, the patients were divided into survival group (n=19) and death group (n=24). T test was used to compare plasma DNA and clearance rate between these two groups. After correlation analysis between plasma DNA and clinical characteristics, receiver operator characteristic curve was performed to analyze sensitivity and specificity of plasma DNA.

(1) The plasma DNA level in death group at 0 h, 48 h was significantly higher than that in survival group, with significantly statistical difference[0 h: (2.05±3.10)×10⁶ pg/ml vs (0.16±0.19)×10⁶ pg/ml, P<0.05; 48 h: (2.49±2.16)×10⁶ pg/ml vs (0.07±0.09)×10⁶ pg/ml, P<0.05]. The plasma DNA clearance rate at 48 h in death group was lower than that in survival group [(-2.833±4.962)% vs (0.089±1.143)%, with significantly statistical difference (P<0.05). (2) A plasma DNA level of more than 0.22×10⁶, 0.37×10⁶, 0.39×10⁶ pg/ml at 0 h, 24 h, 48 h could predict mortality in cariogenic shock patients with sensitivity of 91.7% and specificity of 100.0%.

Plasma DNA level and its clearance rate in early stage of cardiogenic shock can be used to predict the prognosis.