Procalcitonin as a diagnostic marker of meningococcal disease in children presenting with fever and a rash.
BACKGROUND
Procalcitonin (PCT), a precursor of calcitonin, is a recognised marker of bacterial sepsis, and high concentrations correlate with the severity of sepsis. PCT has been proposed as an earlier and better diagnostic marker than C reactive protein (CRP) and white cell count (WCC). This comparison has never been reported in the differentiation of meningococcal disease (MCD) in children presenting with a fever and rash.


OBJECTIVE
To determine if PCT might be a useful marker of MCD in children presenting with fever and rash.


METHODS
PCT, CRP, and WCC were measured on admission in 108 children. Patients were classified into two groups: group I, children with a microbiologically confirmed clinical diagnosis of MCD (n = 64); group II, children with a self limiting illness (n = 44). Median ages were 3.57 (0.07-15.9) versus 1.75 (0.19-14.22) years respectively. Severity of disease in patients with MCD was assessed using the Glasgow Meningococcal Septicaemia Prognostic Score (GMSPS).


RESULTS
PCT and CRP values were significantly higher in group I than in group II (median 38.85 v 0.27 ng/ml and 68.35 v 9.25 mg/l; p < 0.0005), but there was no difference in WCC between groups. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were higher for PCT than CRP and WCC. In group I, procalcitonin was significantly higher in those with severe disease (GMSPS >/=8).


CONCLUSIONS
PCT is a more sensitive and specific predictor of MCD than CRP and WCC in children presenting with fever and a rash.
Carrol
E D
ED
Institute of Child Health, Royal Liverpool Children's Hospital NHS Trust, Alder Hey, Eaton Road, Liverpool L12 2AP, UK. edcarrol@liverpool.ac.uk
Newland
P
P
Riordan
F A I
FA
Thomson
A P J
AP
Curtis
N
N
Hart
C A
CA
D000293:Adolescent; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000097:blood*; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005076:Exanthema / Q000382:microbiology*; D005334:Fever / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000097:blood; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000097:blood*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
D015415:Biomarkers; C000606589:CALCA protein, human; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; D011498:Protein Precursors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002116:Calcitonin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide