Procalcitonin in severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).
OBJECTIVE
The role of procalcitonin (PCT) in severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) has not been highlighted so far. We described retrospectively eight cases of sepsis from pneumonia of various microbiological aetiologies including two due to SARS, compared their PCT concentrations and provided further descriptors of SARS as a viral pneumonia.


RESULTS
Like any viral pneumonia, patients with SARS had low PCT levels in contrast to bacterial or fungal pneumonia.


CONCLUSIONS
In the setting of pneumonia with a finding of low PCT, testing for SARS should be considered, especially if there is a positive travel or contact history. During a SARS epidemic, we also strongly advocate isolating all suspected community acquired pneumonia with a low PCT level.
Chua
Ai Ping
AP
Division of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Department of General Medicine, National University Hospital, 5 Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119074, Singapore. chuaaiping@yahoo.com
Lee
Kang Hoe
KH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000097:blood*; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000821:virology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011024:Pneumonia, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000821:virology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000097:blood*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D045473:Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / Q000254:growth & development*; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000097:blood*
C000606589:CALCA protein, human; D011498:Protein Precursors; D002116:Calcitonin; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide