title: Procalcitonin--a marker of invasive fungal infection?
abstract: Procalcitonin (PCT) has been described as a marker of bacterial sepsis. However, little is known of its diagnostic value in fungal infections. We calculated the sensitivity of PCT for detection of invasive fungal infections (IFI) by analyzing 55 episodes of proven or probable IFI (three in our series, 52 reported in the recent literature). In the early phase of IFI, PCT was elevated in fewer than half of invasive candidiasis episodes and in only one patient (5.3%) with invasive aspergillosis. Due to low sensitivity and specificity, PCT adds little to the diagnosis of IFI.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescence Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Austria. hansjuergen.dornbusch@meduni-graz.at
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Dornbusch
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Strenger
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kerbl
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lackner
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Schwinger
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sovinz
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Urban
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001317:Austria; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis*; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000032:analysis*; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D002176:Candida albicans; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D016469:Fungemia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C000606589:CALCA protein, human; D011498:Protein Precursors; D002116:Calcitonin; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide