title: Procalcitonin levels during pregnancy, delivery and postpartum.
abstract: To determine the normal value ranges of procalcitonin (PCT) in women with uncomplicated pregnancies.
  
  
  
  This prospective cohort study was conducted between May 2009 and February 2010 among 60 women without signs of clinical infection (31 vaginal deliveries, 29 cesarean sections) attending the maternity unit of the University of Geneva Hospitals. Sequential follow-up of PCT levels was performed at 24-28 weeks (n=7), 36-40 weeks (n=60), at delivery (n=59), and at days 2-3 (n=58) and 10 (n=53) postpartum using a sensitive PCT assay with a functional sensitivity of 0.06 μg/L.
  
  
  
  Median levels of PCT were: 24-28 weeks: 0.043 μg/L (range 0.010-0.080); 36-40 weeks: 0.061 μg/L (range 0.010-0.110); at delivery: 0.068 μg/L (range 0.010-0.170); days 2-3: 0.200 μg/L (range 0.030-5.00); and day 10: 0.060 μg/L (range 0.020-0.120). At days 2-3 postpartum, three women had a PCT level between 0.25 μg/L and 0.5 μg/L and two women had a level higher than 0.5 μg/L.
  
  
  
  This study provides reference values for PCT during the third trimester, at delivery and at the immediate postpartum period. A cut-off PCT level of 0.25 μg/L can be used during the third trimester, at delivery, and at the immediate postpartum period to rule out infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Geneva Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland. cpaccolat@gmail.com
authors.forename: Céline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Paccolat
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Harbarth
authors.forename: Delphine
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Courvoisier
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Irion
authors.forename: Begoña Martinez
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: de Tejada
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000097:blood*; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D036801:Parturition / Q000097:blood*; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000097:blood*; D012016:Reference Values; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C000606589:CALCA protein, human; D011498:Protein Precursors; D002116:Calcitonin; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide