Procalcitonin Levels Compared With CRP and ESR Levels in Septicemic Children Aged 3 Months to 13 Years in the Pediatric and PICU Wards of Ayatollah Mousavi Hospital, Zanjan

Abstract

Background: Procalcitonin (PCT) levels are increased in sepsis. In most previously conducted research, PCT levels were found to increase during septic shock. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare PCT levels with CRP and ESR levels in children with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), sepsis, and septic shock. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between December 2011 and December 2012 on 84 children between 3 months and 13 years old admitted in pediatric and PICU wards. The required venous samplings were taken during their hospitalization prior to antibiotic therapy. Urine and CSF fluid cultures were analyzed in specific cases. Patients treated with intravenous antibiotics during the week prior to admission were not included in the study. Results: Due to incomplete information, a total of 81 children were examined; of them, 31 were suffering from SIRS (36.9%), 27 had sepsis (32.1%), 10 had undergone septic shock (11.9%), and 13 had positive cultures (15.5%). PCT levels were higher than 0.5 ng/mL in 57.1% of the patients, CRP levels were higher than 10 mg/L in 71.4% of the patients, and ESR levels were higher than 20 mm/h in 69% of the patients. In our study, a moderate correlation was found between PCT and CRP levels. However, there was a poor correlation between PCT and ESR levels. Conclusions: PCT levels are a faster and more reliable marker of inflammation than ESR or CRP levels. However, since PCT tests are expensive, CRP levels are preferable to study in differentiating the three stages of infection.