To further substantiate these results on a potential prognostic value of OPN measurements we next performed a multivariate Cox regression analysis including markers of inflammation/infection (CRP, white blood cell count (WBC)), hepatic (bilirubin, INR) and renal (creatinine) function at day 3, OPN was identified as an independent significant prognostic parameter to predict ICU survival (Table 4). The gene discussed is SPP1; the disease is infection.