title: [Use of procalcitonin as diagnostic marker in acute gastroenteritis].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is no hematological marker that reliably differentiates between bacterial and nonbacterial acute gastroenteritis (AGE). The objective of this study is to evaluate procalcitonin (PCT) as a marker for bacterial AGE and analyze its relationship with hospital admission.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective study of children diagnosed with AGE was conducted at the emergency room during a period of seven months, which required blood and stool samples. Epidemiological, clinical and analytical variables were analyzed. Patients with chronic digestive disease, prolonged diarrhea, immunodeficiency or prior antibiotic treatment were excluded. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee and an informed consent was requested.
  
  
  RESULTS
  45 patients were analyzed. Children with bacterial GEA were older (p=0.027) and presented higher median PCT and C-reactive protein concentrations (CRP) (p=0.001). The PCT and CRP values that best discriminated bacterial infection were PCT≥0.05 mg/L (sensibility 64.3%, specificity 83.9%, positive probability coefficient (PPC): 4), and CRP≥3 mg/dL (sensibility 78.6%, specificity 90.3%, PPC: 8). No association between the elevation of these markers and higher hospitalization probability was found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Procalcitonin, like CRP, is elevated in bacterial gastroenteritis (p=0.001), but these markers are not a predictor of hospitalization.
authors.forename: Ana Belén
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Martínez L
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Marañón P
authors.forename: Pilar Virginia
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Cobo E
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tomatis S
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guerra M
authors.forename: Ana Cristina
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Peñalba C
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000378:metabolism*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C000606589:CALCA protein, human; D011498:Protein Precursors; D002116:Calcitonin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide