The correlation analysis of hypoproteinemia and procalcitonin in children with sepsis

Objective To investigate the relationship between hypoproteinemia and procalcitonin(PCT),an inflammation indicator,in children with sepsis.Methods Fifty-two children with sepsis were divided into severe and non-severe sepsis groups.The levels of serum albumin and PCT were determined,and compared to 30 children without sepsis(control group).Next,the 52 sepsis children were further divided into mild and severe hypoproteinemia,and normal albumin groups.The changes of PCT levels were compared among three groups.Meanwhile,the correlation between hypoproteinemia and PCT was also analyzed.Results Serum albumin concentrations in children with sepsis were significantly lower than that in control group(P 0.05).The albumin concentrations in severe sepsis group were lower than that in non-severe sepsis group(P 0.05).Serum PCT levels in mild and severe hypoproteinemia groups were higher than that in normal albumin group(P 0.05 and 0.01,respectively).The PCT levels were higher in severe hypoproteinemia group than that in mild hypoproteinemia group(P 0.05).The rate of multiple organ failure in severe hypoproteinemia group was higher than that in normal albumin group(P 0.05).Serum albumin concentrations were negatively correlated with PCT levels(r =-0.291;P 0.05).Conclusions Serum albumin concentrations in children with sepsis were dramatically decreased.The serum albumin concentrations were lower,the states of illness were more severe,and the prognosis was poorer.Serum albumin concentrations were negatively correlated with PCT.