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Procalcitonin: diagnostic value in systemic infections in chronic kidney disease or renal transplant patients

  • Nephrology - Original Paper
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Abstract

Purpose

Although procalcitonin (PCT) has been described as a marker of infection and inflammation, it has not been extensively studied in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), end stage renal disease, or renal transplant.

Methods

PCT was routinely tested in 82 (56 dialyzed patients and 28 renal transplant recipients) consecutive cases with a strong clinical suspicion of infection, during a 6-month period, in a single referral unit.

Results

During the study period, 58/82 cases had confirmed infections as per definition. Patients with confirmed infections had higher values for PCT [median = 2.5 ng/mL, interquartile range (IR) = 0.9–5 ng/mL] than those without (median = 0.3 ng/mL, IR = 0.1–0.5 ng/mL), p < 0.001. Overall, for a cutoff value of 0.5 ng/mL, the sensitivity of the test was 93.1 % and the specificity 78.6.

Conclusion

Our data indicate that significantly elevated PCT concentrations offer good sensitivity and specificity for the early diagnosis of systemic bacterial infection in patients with CKD.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by the University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi (grants numbers 1640/01.02.2013, 1641/01.02.2013 and IDEI—PCE 2011).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dialysis and Renal Transplantation Center, “Dr. C.I. Parhon” University Hospital, B-dul Carol I, nr. 50, Iasi, Romania

    Raluca Dumea, Dimitrie Siriopol, Simona Hogas, Irina Mititiuc & Adrian Covic

Authors
  1. Raluca Dumea
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  2. Dimitrie Siriopol
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  3. Simona Hogas
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  4. Irina Mititiuc
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  5. Adrian Covic
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Correspondence to Dimitrie Siriopol.

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Dumea, R., Siriopol, D., Hogas, S. et al. Procalcitonin: diagnostic value in systemic infections in chronic kidney disease or renal transplant patients. Int Urol Nephrol 46, 461–468 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11255-013-0542-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11255-013-0542-8

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