Procalcitonin and cytokine levels: relationship to organ failure and mortality in pediatric septic shock.
BACKGROUND
Procalcitonin (PCT), a marker of bacterial sepsis, may also act as a mediator of the inflammatory response to infection, and thus influence outcome.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between PCT, interleukin (IL)-10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), organ failure, and mortality in pediatric septic shock.


METHODS
Prospective observational study.


METHODS
A 16-bed pediatric intensive care unit of a university hospital.


METHODS
A total of 75 children with septic shock having a median age of 43.1 months (range, 0.1-192 months). Children who had received antibiotics for >24 hrs were excluded. A total of 37 patients (49%) had meningococcal disease, and 72 patients (96%) required mechanical ventilation.


METHODS
The pediatric risk of mortality (PRISM) score, multiple organ system failure (MOSF) score, duration of ventilation, length of ICU stay, and outcome were recorded. PCT, IL-10, and TNF were measured at admission to the intensive care unit. Sequential PCT levels were available at 0 hrs and 24 hrs in 39 patients (52%).


RESULTS
Observed mortality was 21/75 (28%). Data are median (range). The admission PCT (p = .0002) and TNF levels (p = .0001) were higher in children with higher MOSF scores. In survivors and nonsurvivors, the admission PCT was 82 ng/mL vs. 273 ng/mL (p = .03), IL-10 was 62 pg/mL vs. 534 pg/mL (p = .03), and TNF was 76 pg/mL vs. 480 pg/mL (p = .001), respectively. Area under the mortality receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.73 for PCT, 0.67 for IL-10, and 0.76 for TNF, compared with 0.83 for the PRISM score. Of 39 children, 16 (41%) with sequential PCT measurements showed no fall in PCT after 24 hrs treatment. These children had higher admission levels of IL-10 (p = .03), and TNF (p = .03) compared with children who demonstrated a subsequent fall in PCT. Although the former did not have a higher median PRISM (p = .28) or MOSF score (p = .19), observed mortality was 44% (7 of 16) compared with 9% (2 of 23) (p = .02).


CONCLUSIONS
The admission PCT, like TNF and IL-10, is related to the severity of organ failure and mortality in children with septic shock. A fall in PCT after 24 hrs of treatment may have favorable prognostic significance.
Hatherill
M
M
Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Guy's Hospital, London, UK.
Tibby
S M
SM
Turner
C
C
Ratnavel
N
N
Murdoch
I A
IA
D000293:Adolescent; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000097:blood*; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D015278:Intensive Care Units, Pediatric; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood*; D007902:Length of Stay; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000097:blood* / Q000145:classification / Q000401:mortality*; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000097:blood*; D012372:ROC Curve; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000097:blood* / Q000145:classification / Q000401:mortality; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism*
C000606589:CALCA protein, human; D011498:Protein Precursors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10; D002116:Calcitonin; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide