title: Procalcitonin as a useful marker of infection in hemato-oncological patients with fever.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The diagnostic utility of procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) to discriminate between infective fever and fever due to inflammation was assessed in hemato-oncological patients treated with aggressive chemotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Values of PCT and PCR measured on days -1, 0, 1, 3 and 5 of onset of fever were analyzed using longitudinal regression analysis. Of 236 febrile episodes in 166 patients, 39 were due to bacteremia, 62 to other infections and 135 were classified as fever of unknown origin.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PCT concentration increased early only in bacteremia and other infections (p<0.001), with the highest levels at day +1. No different trends were noted in patients with low WBC count (<1,000/microl). CRP increased with a similar trend in all the three groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PCT determination may contribute significantly to the management of hemato-oncological patients who experience febrile episodes.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory Medicine Unit, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy. maria.sandri@ieo.it
authors.forename: Maria T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Sandri
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Passerini
authors.forename: Maria E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Leon
authors.forename: Fedro A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Peccatori
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zorzino
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salvatici
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Riggio
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cassatella
authors.forename: Saverio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cinieri
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Martinelli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000097:blood*; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D006095:Gram-Positive Cocci / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C000606589:CALCA protein, human; D011498:Protein Precursors; D002116:Calcitonin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide