title: Procalcitonin and C-reactive protein in the diagnosis and prediction of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis associated with chronic severe hepatitis B.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP), and white blood cells (WBCs) are inflammatory markers used to diagnose severe bacterial infections. We evaluated the diagnostic role of these markers and compared their accuracy for spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) associated with chronic severe hepatitis B (CSHB).
  
  
  METHODS
  PCT and CRP concentrations, WBC count, and other hematological parameters were measured in serum from 84 well-characterized patients with CSHB, of whom 42 had SBP. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis was performed to assess the diagnostic accuracy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PCT and CRP concentrations were significantly higher in the CSHB patients with SBP (n=42) than CSHB patients without SBP (n=42). PCT and CRP concentrations were more accurate than WBC count for the diagnosis of CSHB-associated SBP. The optimal cutoff value of PCT was 0.48 ng/mL. The PCT concentration was significantly correlated with the CRP concentration and WBC count.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum PCT and CRP seems to be better markers than WBC for the diagnosis of CSHB patients with SBP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Le-Yong
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Zun-Qiong
authors.initials: ZQ
authors.lastname: Ke
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D019540:Area Under Curve; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000097:blood*; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D005260:Female; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000166:cytology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000097:blood*; D012372:ROC Curve; D012737:Sex Factors; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C000606589:CALCA protein, human; D011498:Protein Precursors; D002116:Calcitonin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide
keywords: C-reactive protein; Chronic severe hepatitis B; Procalcitonin; White blood cell