title: Procalcitonin as a diagnostic test for sepsis: health technology assessment in the ICU.
abstract: Elevation in the serum concentration of procalcitonin (PCT) is associated with systemic infection. This association has led to the proposed use of PCT as a novel biomarker of bacterial sepsis. The advantages and limitations of the American College of Chest Physicians/Society of Critical Care Medicine (ACCP/SCCM) definitions of sepsis are an important consideration that affects the impact of any diagnostic test for sepsis and these issues are discussed. Our main objective is to perform a systematic health technology assessment of PCT as a diagnostic test for sepsis. In an adult intensive care unit (ICU) population, we identify a specific and important question-can PCT accurately distinguish sepsis in patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) who have a suspected infection? Likelihood ratios are calculated from published data to attempt to find the best answer. The published evidence does not support a general claim that PCT is a useful decision support tool for diagnosing sepsis in patients who have SIRS. Procalcitonin has a slightly better ability to exclude the diagnosis of sepsis. The role for using PCT testing in the ICU will continue to evolve along with our understanding and definition of sepsis.
authors.affiliation: Sunnybrook and Women's College Health Sciences Centre, Department of Critical Care Medicine, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. david.gattas@rogers.com
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Gattas
authors.forename: Deborah J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Cook
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000097:blood*; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000097:blood*; D018805:Sepsis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D018746:Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D013673:Technology Assessment, Biomedical
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C000606589:CALCA protein, human; D011498:Protein Precursors; D002116:Calcitonin; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide