Evaluation value of serum procalcitonin change rate determination on the prognosis of patients with severe pneumonia

Objective To investigate the evaluation value of serum procalcitonin(PCT) change rate determination on the prognosis of patients with severe pneumonia.Methods A total of 98 patients with pneumonia,patients were selected and divided into severe pneumonia group (50 cases) and mild pneumonia group (48 cases).The changes of serum PCT,blood routine,C reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin (IL)-6 concentration were observed dynamicly.The severe pneumonia hospitalization time,mechanical ventilation rate and mortality rate was recorded.Results The serum PCT and CRP levels in severe pneumonia group were significantly higher than those in mild pneumonia group [(19.8 ± 21.6) μ g/L vs.(1.5 ± 0.8) μ g/L,(34.3 ± 13.1) ng/L vs.(11.5 ± 5.2) ng/L],the difference was statistically significant (P＜ 0.05); but there was no significant between two groups in white blood cell count (WBC),IL-6 (P＞ 0.05).Severe pneumonia in patients with serum PCT decreased rapidly as the disease was effectively controlled,WBC,CRP and IL-6 had been maintained at a high level.CRP decreased (10.3 ± 7.8)％,IL-6 decreased (12.4 ± 6.9)％,PCT decreased (43.5 ± 12.3)％,the difference was statistically significant (P＜ 0.05).Conclusion Compared with the traditional inflammatory indexes WBC,CRP and IL-6,PCT can assist in the diagnosis of infection,and the rate of change has certain clinical value in judging the prognosis in patients with severe pneumonia. Key words: Severe pneumonia;  Procalcitonin;  Prognosis