Laboratory Medicine ›› 2017, Vol. 32 ›› Issue (3): 234-239.DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-8640.2017.03.018

• Orginal Article • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Procalcitonin for the diagnosis and monitoring of infectious diseases

HU Yao   

  1. Department of Clinical Laboratory,Huashan Hospital,Fudan University,Shanghai 200040,China
  • Received:2016-05-13 Online:2017-03-30 Published:2017-04-11

Abstract:

Traditional biomarkers,including C-reactive protein(CRP),leukocyte,erythrocyte sedimentation rate,clinical signs and symptoms,are not sufficiently sensitive or specific enough to guide treatment decisions in infectious diseases. Procalcitonin (PCT) is synthesized by tissues and organs in response to endotoxin or to mediators released,owing to a large number of pathogenic bacterial infection invasion. A growing body of evidence supports the use of PCT as a biomarker to improve the diagnosis of infectious diseases. The monitoring of PCT may contribute to the source control for infections and antibiotic therapy. The review summarizes the clinical application of PCT in different infection diseases.

Key words: Procalcitonin, Infection, Sepsis, Systemic inflammatory response syndrome, Antibiotic guidance

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