Abstract

SCANDIZZO, Hilda Emilia et al. Utility of procalcitonin and C-reactive protein in pediatric intensive care unit. Acta bioquím. clín. latinoam. [online]. 2013, vol.47, n.4, pp.675-680. ISSN 0325-2957.

The aim of the present work was to evaluate the usefulness of procalcitonin and C-reactive protein in pediatric patients with suspected bacterial infection or sepsis on admission to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and subsequent monitoring and prognosis of prolonged hospitalization or death in a third level hospital. A prospective observational, single center study was performed and a combined endpoint of hospital death or prolonged hospitalization in the PICU (over 12 days) was considered as primary end point. Values of Procalcitonin (VIDAS ® BRAHMS PCT) and PCR (BT turbidimetric 3000) were obtained on admission and on the third day of hospitalization and clearance of both markers was calculated. Out of 41 patients, 24 (58%) died or had prolonged hospitalization. PCT and CRP clearance on the third day was significantly associated with lower mortality and shorter hospital stays in PICU (p=0.01 for PCT, p=0.0036 for PCR). The area under the ROC curve was 0.773 for CRP and PCT was 0.735, with no significant difference between both curves. No significant differences were observed between both groups for the PCT and CRP values at admission (p=0,82 and p=0,95 respectively). It can be concluded that clearance values of both markers can be a useful tool for clinical prognosis.

Keywords : Procalcitonin; C-reactive protein; Sepsis.

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