Procalcitonin and C-reactive protein serum levels as markers of infection in a pediatric population with febrile neutropenia and cancer.
BACKGROUND
Procalcitonin and C-reactive-protein are inflammatory markers for sepsis. The authors evaluated their sensitivity and specificity in pediatric patients with cancer and febrile neutropenia.


METHODS
Serum procalcitonin and C-reactive-protein were evaluated. Patients (n = 54) were divided into 2 groups, with severe infection (n = 18) or without documented infection (n = 36).


RESULTS
Procalcitonin and C-reactive protein were significantly higher in the high-risk group. Procalcitonin displayed 72.2% sensitivity and 80.5% specificity. C-reactive-protein had a sensitivity of 77.7% and specificity of 77.2%.


CONCLUSIONS
Procalcitonin is an accurate predictor of bacterial infection in neutropenic children, while C-reactive-protein may be a better screening test in emergency settings.
Martinez-Albarran
Manuel
M
Departamento de Hematologia y Oncologia Pediatrica, Hospital Civil de Guadalajara Juan I. Menchaca, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.
Perez-Molina
Jose de Jesus
Jde J
Gallegos-Castorena
Sergio
S
Sanchez-Zubieta
Fernando
F
Del Toro-Arreola
Susana
S
Troyo-Sanroman
Rogelio
R
Gonzalez-Ramella
Oscar
O
D000293:Adolescent; D001419:Bacteria / Q000472:pathogenicity; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000097:blood*; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000097:blood*; D012372:ROC Curve; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D015415:Biomarkers; C000606589:CALCA protein, human; D011498:Protein Precursors; D002116:Calcitonin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide