calca-protein--human and Bronchitis--Chronic

The diagnostic significance of procalcitonin concentrations in lower respiratory tract infections and tuberculosis is not known. A prospective analysis was, therefore, performed in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis (AECB), community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) and tuberculosis and their procalcitonin levels compared with those of patients with noninfectious lung diseases (controls). In addition, standard inflammatory parameter data were collected. A prospective clinical study was performed with four different groups of patients and a control group that consisted of patients with noninfectious lung diseases. A total of 129 patients were included: 25 with HAP, 26 CAP, 26 AECB, 27 tuberculosis, and 25 controls. C-reactive protein level, blood cell counts and procalcitonin concentration were evaluated on the first day after onset of clinical and inflammatory symptoms prior to treatment. The median procalcitonin concentrations in HAP, CAP, AECB and tuberculosis were not elevated in relation to the cut-off level of 0.5 ng x mL(-1). In the HAP group, in four of five patients who subsequently died, procalcitonin concentrations of >0.5 ng x mL(-1) were found. In acute lower respiratory infections, such as HAP, CAP and AECB, significantly elevated levels were found in comparison to the control group, but below the usual cut-off level. No differences were observed between tuberculosis and the control group. Relative to the current cut-off level of 0.5 ng x mL(-1), procalcitonin concentration is not a useful parameter for diagnosis of lower respiratory tract infections. However, compared to the control group, there were significantly elevated levels in patients with hospital-acquired pneumonia, community-acquired pneumonia and acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis below the current cut-off level, which should be further investigated.

Topics: Acute Disease; Aged; Blood Cell Count; Bronchitis, Chronic; C-Reactive Protein; Calcitonin; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; Community-Acquired Infections; Cross Infection; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Pneumonia; Prospective Studies; Protein Precursors; Reproducibility of Results; Sensitivity and Specificity; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

To evaluate the diagnostic value of serum procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis.. The PCT and CRP levels were detected in 56 patients with acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis and 58 healthy control subjects.. The serum PCT level and positivity rate were significantly higher in the case group than in the control group (P<0.05); the serum CRP level was also significantly higher in the case group (P<0.05), but the positivity rate of CRP was similar between the two groups (P>0.05). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and diagnostic accuracy rate of PCT were higher than those of CRP.. Serum PCT is more sensitive than CRP in the diagnoses of acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis, and can be used as a specific indicator for monitoring the condition of the patients.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Bronchitis, Chronic; C-Reactive Protein; Calcitonin; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; Case-Control Studies; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Predictive Value of Tests; Protein Precursors; Sensitivity and Specificity; Young Adult