title: [Association between PCT levels and liver function in liver cirrhosis patients].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the association between procalcitonin (PCT) levels and liver function in liver cirrhosis patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Collect serum samples from 44 liver cirrhosis patients, detect the PCT levels by semi-quantitative solid immunoassay, and at the same time, detect the serum levels of ALT, AST, TBIL, ALB, CHE, CHOL, PTA etc, then rate the patients by Child-pugh scoring system into Child-pugh A, B, C.
  
  
  RESULTS
  set PCT > 0.5 microg/L as the positive threshold, significantly the PCT positive patients have higher ALT, TBIL but lower CHOL, PTA compared with the PCT negative patients. With the increasing of PCT levels, the ALT, AST, TBIL levels are gradually increased too, but PTA decreased. We find that the PCT positive patients are mainly Child-pugh B and C patients, and PCT negative patients are mainly Child-pugh C patients. PCT positive patient's lymphocyte count are lower than PCT negative patient's.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Liver injury increase the risk of infection in liver cirrhosis patients. As the severity of the injury, the patients are easier to progress into severe infection. Combined with monitoring the PCT levels, pay more attention to protect the liver function will be helpful in early detecting infections and controlling of infection in liver cirrhosis patients.
authors: Department of Hepatology, Capital University of Medical Science Affiliated Beijing You An Hospital, Beijing 100069, China.
authors: Yan-Mei
authors: YM
authors: Feng
authors: Ming
authors: M
authors: Chen
authors: Juan
authors: J
authors: Li
authors: Xue-Mei
authors: XM
authors: Liu
authors: Lu
authors: L
authors: Dai
authors: Qing-Hua
authors: QH
authors: Meng