Serum and Pleural Fluid Procalcitonin in Predicting Bacterial Infection in Patients with Parapneumonic Effusion.
10.3346/jkms.2009.24.3.398
- Author:
Yang Ching KO
1
;
Wen Pin WU
;
Chi Sen HSU
;
Mong Ping DAI
;
Chien Chih OU
;
Chih Hsiung KAO
Author Information
1. Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, St. Martin De Porres Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan. wwp750201@yahoo.com.tw
- Publication Type:Original Article ; Comparative Study
- Keywords:
Procalcitonin;
Pleural Effusion;
Pneumonia
- MeSH:
Aged;
Bacterial Infections/*diagnosis;
Calcitonin/*analysis/blood;
Diagnosis, Differential;
Female;
Humans;
Male;
Middle Aged;
Pleural Effusion/*diagnosis;
Pneumonia/*diagnosis;
Predictive Value of Tests;
Protein Precursors/*analysis/blood;
ROC Curve
- From:Journal of Korean Medical Science
2009;24(3):398-402
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
This study evaluated the value of procalcitonin (PCT) levels in pleural effusion to differentiate the etiology of parapneumonic effusion (PPE). Forty-one consecutive PPE patients were enrolled and were divided into bacterial and non-bacterial PPE. Blood and pleural effusion samples were collected for PCT measurement on admission and analyzed for diagnostic evaluation. PCT of pleural fluid was significantly increased in the bacterial PPE group (0.24 ng/mL) compared to the non-bacterial PPE group (0.09 ng/mL), but there was no significant difference for serum PCT. A PCT concentration of pleural fluid >0.174 ng/mL (best cut-off value) was considered positive for a diagnosis of bacterial PPE (sensitivity, 80%; specificity, 76%; AUC, 0.84). Pleural effusion PCT in the bacterial PPE is significantly different from those of the non-bacterial PPE and control groups, so the diagnostic use of PCT still warrants further investigation.
