title: Procalcitonin in diagnosis of severe infections.
abstract: Increased serum concentration of procalcitonin (PCT) in limited number of paediatric patients with acute severe bacterial infections has been described previously. In a prospective study in 337 hospitalised adult patients fulfilling the SIRS-criteria, serum PCT was determined on admission and up to 9 days thereafter. Patients with microbiologically documented infection showed peak values of 30 ng/ml at day 3, which rapidly decreased to normal levels. Patients without sepsis revealed baseline values (0.1 ng/ml or lower). The validity criteria were calculated for several breakpoints of PCT. We detected an interval from 0.1 to 0.5 ng/ml under which a severe microbial infection is unlikely (sensitivity 91%, specificity 25%, positive predictive value 39%, negative predictive value 86%). An infection is most likely above 0.5 ng/ml (sensitivity 60%, specificity 79%, positive predictive value 61%, negative predictive value 78%). Between these two points an infection can neither be confirmed nor excluded. The excellent specificity and negative predictive value at a cut-off point of 0.5 ng/ml suggests that this test might be a useful parameter in the management of infectious diseases.
authors.affiliation: Klinikum der J.W. Goethe-Universität, Medizinische Klinik III, Schwerpunkt Infektiologie, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, Frankfurt am Main D-60596, Germany.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Al-Nawas
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Krammer
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Shah
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000097:blood*; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D006801:Humans; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000097:blood*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018805:Sepsis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C000606589:CALCA protein, human; D011498:Protein Precursors; D002116:Calcitonin; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide