Alteration of PCT and CRP in children with pneumonia and its clinical significance

Objective To explore the relationship between serum levels of procalcition (PCT),CRP and pneumonia,and its clinical significance.Methods Serum levels of PCT and CRP were measured with electrochemiluminescence and immunoturbidimetry respectively in 418 children with pneumonia and 120 healthy children.Results Serum levels of PCT and CRP in pediatric pneumonia group were significantly higher than those of control group(F =24.13,8.73,all P ＜ 0.05).The levels of PCT and CRP in the bacterial pneumonia group were higher than those of viral pneumonia group (t =23.58,38.77,all P ＜ 0.05).The CRP level of mycoplasmal pneumonia group,was higher than that of the viral pneumonia group (t =38.37,P ＜ 0.05),while the serum PCT level between the viral pneumonia group and mycoplasmal pneumonia group had no significant difference (t =3.80,P ＞ 0.05).The serum PCT and CRP levels were gradually increased with the aggravation of the pneumonia.Conclusion Determination of serum PCT and CRP can be used as a conventional index for early diagnosis and differential diagnosis of pediatric pneumonia.In addition,the serum levels of PCT and CRP gradually increased with the increase of the severity,its level can help to assess the severity of pneumonia. Key words: Pneumonia;  Procalcition;  C-reactive protein;  Child