Evaluation of diagnostic and prognostic value of procalcitonin in critical ill patients with sepsis

Objective To study the diagnostic and prognostic value of procalcitonin (PCT)in patients with sepsis in early stage. Methods In the perspective study, 168 patients enrolled were classified into three groups,ncluding 31 cases in control group,37 cases in SIRS group and 100 cases in general sepsis group. The latter were com-posed of moderate sepsis sub-group with 36 cases, severe sepsis sub-group with 40 cases and septic shock sub-group with 24 cases. Indexes of inflammation, SOFA and concentration of PCT in all patients were determined and their cor-relation with sepsis prognosis was analyzed. Results The level of PCT and CRP is 3.1 ± 2.3 μg/L and 34.7 ± 28.0 mg/L in SIRS group,is 10.8 ± 8.1 μg/L and 106.8 ± 69.3 mg/L in general sepsis group respectively. Which are higher than the level of PCT (0.3 ± 0.2 μg/L )and CRP (4.1 ± 2.9 mg/L)in control group (P 4.395 μg/L for PCT,>51.8 mg/L for CRP and >4.0 for SOFA score. Condusion PCT and CRP are useful diagnostic parameters with high specificity in early sepsis. PCT combining with SOFA score can be used as ide-al quantitative index to estimate the severity of sepsis and prognosis in patients with sepsis. Key words: Sepsis; Calcitonin gene-relatod peptide; C-reactive protein; Systemic inflammatory response syn-drome