Dynamics of serum procalcitonin in patients after major neurosurgery.
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.
Laifer
G
G
Division of Infectious Diseases, University Hospitals Basel, Basel, Switzerland. laiferg@uhbs.ch
Wasner
M
M
Sendi
P
P
Graber
P
P
Gratzl
O
O
Huber
P
P
Fluckiger
U
U
Zimmerli
W
W
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
D015415:Biomarkers; C000606589:CALCA protein, human; D011498:Protein Precursors; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D002116:Calcitonin; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide