title: Procalcitonin as a predictor of moderate to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome after cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass: a study protocol for a prospective cohort study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Procalcitonin (PCT) is activated during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and may be a predictor of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The objective of this study is to determine whether patients with different serum PCT concentrations exhibit different rates of developing moderate to severe ARDS.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a prospective, single centre, observational cohort study. All patients admitted to the cardiosurgery department for cardiac surgery with CPB were screened for study eligibility. All eligible patients received a CPB procedure. Blood samples were obtained to determine white cell counts as well as N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, C reactive protein and PCT levels. Patients were assigned to the PCT elevated cohort or the control cohort based on serum PCT concentrations on the first postoperative day with a cut-off value of 7.0 ng/mL. Data, including baseline, perioperative and outcome data, were collected daily for 7 days. The primary end point was the incidence of moderate to severe ARDS, which was diagnosed according to the Berlin definition.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Fujian Provincial Hospital. Study findings are disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR-OCH-14005076).
authors.affiliation: Surgical Intensive Care Unit, Fujian Provincial Clinical College of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Han
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiosurgery, Fujian Provincial Clinical College of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Cardiovascular Research Institute, Fuzhou, Fujian, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhang-Bo
authors.initials: ZB
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Surgical Intensive Care Unit, Fujian Provincial Clinical College of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Rong-Guo
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D002116:Calcitonin / Q000097:blood*; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006801:Humans; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000097:blood*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000097:blood*; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000097:blood*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: C000606589:CALCA protein, human; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011498:Protein Precursors; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D002116:Calcitonin; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide