title: Dynamics of serum procalcitonin in patients after major neurosurgery.
abstract: Classical markers of infection cannot differentiate reliably between inflammation and infection after neurosurgery. This study investigated the dynamics of serum procalcitonin (PCT) in patients following major neurosurgery. PCT concentrations remained < 0.2 ng/mL during the post-operative course. In contrast, leukocyte and neutrophil counts, as well as C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, increased significantly post-operatively (leukocytes, range 7.1-23.7 x 10(9)/L, p < 0.001; neutrophils, range 70.8-94.5%, p < 0.001; CRP, median 14 mg/L, range 3-95 mg/L, p < 0.001). Analysis of PCT levels using assays with improved sensitivity may be useful in the diagnosis of neurosurgical patients with post-operative fever of unknown origin.
authors: Division of Infectious Diseases, University Hospitals Basel, Basel, Switzerland. laiferg@uhbs.ch
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Laifer
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Wasner
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Sendi
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Graber
authors: O
authors: O
authors: Gratzl
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Huber
authors: U
authors: U
authors: Fluckiger
authors: W
authors: W
authors: Zimmerli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000097:blood*; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D005260:Female; D005335:Fever of Unknown Origin / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009493:Neurosurgery; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000097:blood*; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C000606589:CALCA protein, human; D011498:Protein Precursors; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D002116:Calcitonin; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide