title: Relevance of procalcitonin levels in comparison to other markers of inflammation in hemodialysis patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of serum procalcitonin (PCT) in hemodialysis (HD) patients and its correlation to other traditional inflammatory markers.
  
  
  METHODS
  We measured plasma PCT levels in 120 patients on maintenance HD. PCT levels were compared with C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), prealbumin, and albumin. We also examined the above parameters subgroups, especially in diabetics and the elderly. Relations between parameters were studied by Spearman's correlation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PCT concentrations were higher than the upper normal limit of 0.5 ng/ mL in 38% of the patients. All patients with increased CRP had PCT concentrations higher than the upper normal limit. Plasma CRP concentrations were positively correlated to IL-6 (r = 0.304). Prealbumin was negatively correlated with CRP (r = 0.259) and with IL-6 (r = 0.388).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combination of elevated IL-6 and CRP levels was associated with an altered nutritional status. The concomitant elevations in PCT, CRP, and IL-6 could be more sensitive in the evaluation of inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Nephrology Department, Papageorgiou General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece. giannisgriv@hotmail.com
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Visvardis
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Griveas
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fleva
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giannakou
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Papadopoulou
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mitsopoulos
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kyriklidou
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Manou
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ginikopoulou
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Meimaridou
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pavlitou
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sakellariou
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011336:Probability; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C000606589:CALCA protein, human; D015850:Interleukin-6; D011498:Protein Precursors; D002116:Calcitonin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide