MID-REGIONAL PRO-ADRENOMEDULLIN (MR-proADM) AS A DIAGNOSTIC AND PROGNOSTIC BIOMARKER IN EARLY SEPSIS: A NARRATIVE REVIEW
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31435/ijitss.2(50).2026.5741Keywords:
Sepsis, MR-proADM, Proadrenomedullin, Biomarkers, Endothelial Dysfunction, Procalcitonin, C-reactive Protein, Prognosis, Intensive Care, Emergency MedicineAbstract
Sepsis is a critical medical condition resulting from an inappropriate host response to infection, often leading to organ dysfunction and high mortality. Early diagnosis remains a significant clinical challenge due to the nonspecific nature of initial symptoms and the limited efficacy of conventional biomarkers. Commonly used markers, such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT), provide useful information on inflammation and bacterial infections but do not adequately reflect vascular dysfunction or predict clinical deterioration.
Mid-regional proadrenomedullin (MR-proADM) has recently gained importance as a biomarker reflecting both inflammatory processes and impaired vascular integrity. As a stable fragment of proadrenomedullin, it indirectly represents the activity of adrenomedullin, a peptide involved in maintaining endothelial function and circulatory homeostasis. Evidence from observational studies indicates that MR-proADM levels increase early in the course of infection and correlate with disease progression, organ failure, and risk of death.
Compared to traditional biomarkers, MR-proADM appears to offer better prognostic performance, particularly in identifying patients at risk of severe complications. Its association with endothelial damage and microcirculatory dysfunction makes it particularly relevant to the pathophysiology of sepsis.
In summary, MR-proADM may be a valuable complement to existing diagnostic tools, aiding early risk stratification and clinical decision-making. Further studies are needed to standardize its use and confirm its role in routine practice.
References
Angeletti, S., Spoto, S., Fogolari, M., De Florio, L., Bernardini, S., Dicuonzo, G., & Pascale, E. (2018). Diagnostic and prognostic role of procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP), and MR-proadrenomedullin in bacterial infections. Critical Care, 22, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13054-018-2128-5
Caironi, P., Latini, R., Struck, J., Carlessi, A., Wagner, F., Blet, A., ... Singer, M. (2017). Circulating biologically active adrenomedullin predicts organ failure and mortality in sepsis. Critical Care Medicine, 45(1), 49–57. https://doi.org/10.1097/CCM.0000000000002012
Christ-Crain, M., Morgenthaler, N. G., Stolz, D., Müller, C., Bingisser, R., Harbarth, S., Tamm, M., & Müller, B. (2005). Pro-adrenomedullin to predict severity and outcome in community-acquired pneumonia. Critical Care, 10, R96. https://doi.org/10.1186/cc4987
Debiane, L. G., Hachem, R. Y., Al Wohoush, I., Chaftari, A. M., Bahu, R. R., Jiang, Y., ... Raad, I. I. (2014). The utility of procalcitonin and MR-proadrenomedullin in early diagnosis of sepsis. Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease, 78(4), 412–417. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2013.11.014
Elke, G., Bloos, F., Wilson, D. C., et al. (2018). The use of mid-regional proadrenomedullin to identify disease severity and treatment response in sepsis. Critical Care, 22, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13054-018-2081-3
Schuetz, P., Hausfater, P., Amin, D., et al. (2012). Biomarkers from distinct biological pathways improve early risk stratification in medical emergency patients: The TRIAGE study. Critical Care, 16, R50. https://doi.org/10.1186/cc11200
Singer, M., Deutschman, C. S., Seymour, C. W., et al. (2016). The Third International Consensus Definitions for Sepsis and Septic Shock (Sepsis-3). JAMA, 315(8), 801–810. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2016.0287
Suberviola, B., Castellanos-Ortega, Á., Ruiz Ruiz, A., López-Hoyos, M., & Santibáñez, M. (2012). Prognostic value of proadrenomedullin in severe sepsis and septic shock. Journal of Critical Care, 27(4), 415–420. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcrc.2011.08.020
Valenzuela-Sánchez, F., Valenzuela-Méndez, B., Rodríguez-Gutiérrez, J. F., Estella, Á., González-García, M. A., & Rodríguez-García, J. L. (2015). New role of biomarkers: Mid-regional pro-adrenomedullin in sepsis. Annals of Translational Medicine, 3(22), 329. https://doi.org/10.3978/j.issn.2305-5839.2015.12.17
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Julia Świechowska, Sonia Mojzyk, Magdalena Wiciak, Ingrid Samberger, Julia Maria Kuczkowska, Zuzanna Zarzycka, Donata Pokorska, Zuzanna Michalska, Judyta Bordakiewicz, Agnieszka Morawa

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
All articles are published in open-access and licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). Hence, authors retain copyright to the content of the articles.
CC BY 4.0 License allows content to be copied, adapted, displayed, distributed, re-published or otherwise re-used for any purpose including for adaptation and commercial use provided the content is attributed.

