Procalcitonin versus interleukin-6 levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids of trauma victims with severe lung contusion

Objective: To examine whether measurement of procalcitonin (PCT) in comparison with interleukin-6 is a reliable marker to score the extent of lung contusion in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluids in polytrauma patients. Design: Prospective, nonrandomized, observational study. Setting: Twelve-bed intensive care unit in a 1,100-bed primary care university hospital. Patients: Fourteen trauma victims presenting with severe lung contusion and acute lung injury or acute respiratory distress syndrome were enrolled in the study. Interventions. Bronchoscopy with collection of lavage fluid and serum blood samples. Samples were obtained on days 1 and 2 after severe chest trauma, and lung contusion was assessed by computed tomography scan. Measurements and Main Results: PCT was detectable in BAL fluids of all 14 patients. A significant correlation for PCT serum and BAL levels was found an day 2 (p = .0063). For PCT, no significant correlations (Spearman rank) were found to the lung injury score (p = .93), the abbreviated injury scale-lung (p = .33), or the sepsis-related organ failure assessment score-lung (p = .38). Also, for interleukin-6 there was no significant correlation to the lung injury score (p = .62), abbreviated injury scale-lung (p = .45), or the sepsis-related organ failure assessment score-lung (p = .54). Conclusions: PCT and interleukin-6 BAL levels cannot be considered as reliable parameters to assess the extent of lung contusion.