To assess the potential value of alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) for early diagnosis and prognosis of patients with sepsis, and then compared with C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), white blood cell (WBC) counts, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score. 164 patients were enrolled in the study, including 25 cases with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and 139 cases with different levels of sepsis (46 moderate sepsis, 52 severe sepsis and 41 septic shock ). Serum levels of Alpha-1-acid Glycoprotein (AGP), C-reactive protein (CRP), and procalcitonin (PCT), and white blood cell (WBC) counts were measured on the day of admission to intensive care unit (ICU).

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Male and female aged 18 years old and over;
2. Clinically suspected infection;
3. Fulfilled at least two criteria of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (a) core temperature higher than 38 °C or lower than 36 °C (b)respiratory rate above 20/min, or PCO2 below 32 mmHg (c) pulse rate above 90/min, and (d) white blood cell count greater than 12,000/μl or lower than < 4,000/μl or less than 10% of bands;

Exclusion Criteria:

1. less than 18 years old;
2. immunosuppression;
3. agranulocytosis (granulocyte counts <0.5× 109/L);
4. chronic myeloid leukemia (CML);
5. malignancy;
6. less than 24 hours of the length of ICU stay;
7. reluctant to participate in the study.

Between April 2011 and APRIL 2013, inpatients were included who were in the intensive care units (ICU) of the Department of Respiratory Disease (RICU), the Emergency Department (EICU), and the Department of Surgery (SICU) of the Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital.