Comparative study among procalcitonin,C-reactive protein,erythrocyte sedimentation rate and white blood cell in diagnosing pulmonary tuberculosis complicated with pulmonary infection

Objective To investigate the differences among serum procalcitonin( PCT),C-reactive protein( CRP),erythrocyte sedimentation rate( ESR) and white blood cell count( WBC) in diagnosing pulmonary tuberculosis( PTB) complicated with pulmonary infection. Methods The levels of PCT,CRP,ESR and WBC were detected in active PTB patients complicated with pulmonary infection and patients without infection. The data was analyzed statistically by SPSS16. 0 software. The receiver operating characteristic( ROC) curves and area under the curve( AUC) of each indicator were analyzed by MedCalc V12.7.7.0 software. AUC and the cut-off values were calculated and compared by ROC. Results Blood PCT,CRP,ESR and WBC level in PTB patients complicated with pulmonary infection were all significantly higher those without infection( P 0. 01). The AUC of four indicators diagnosing PTB complicated with pulmonary infection were 0. 89,0. 75,0. 74 and 0. 72 respectively,and AUC of PCT was significantly higher than the other three indicators( P 0. 01). The cut-off values of PCT,CRP,ESR and WBC were0. 29 ng /ml,15. 00 mg /L,37. 00 mm /h and 7. 86 × 109/L respectively. Conclusion Blood PCT,CRP,ESR and WBC level may be useful in the diagnosis of PTB complicated with pulmonary infection and PCT is better than the other three indicators.