Procalcitonin levels in plasma in oncohaematologic patients with and without bacterial infections

Background: The flogosis markers currently in use show both low sensitivity and specificity, particularly in neoplastic and degenerative diseases. Procalcitonin (PCT) is a pro-peptide of calcitonin produced mainly but not only in the C-cells of the thyroid glands and, as several studies show, PCT levels in plasma increase during infections. Bacterial infections are also the main cause of death in oncological patients. Furthermore, in patients with leukaemia in chemotherapy recovery, infections often induce relapses. The aim of the present study is to detect PCT levels in plasma in oncohaematologic patients with and without infections. Methods: The study was carried out on 54 patients by a quantitative automated immunoassay. Results: PCT plasma levels greater than or equal to0.5 ng were detected in 27 out of 30 patients (90,0%) with bacterial infections; 8 out of 9 patients (88,9%) with viral infections and in 12 out of 15 patients in the control group without statistically significant differences. Conclusions: The results, which differ from those in the literature, are discussed. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.