• Le-Yong Yuan, Zun-Qiong Ke, Ming Wang, and Yan Li.
• Department of Clinical Laboratory, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, P.R. China.
• Ann Lab Med. 2013 Nov 1;33(6):449-54.

BackgroundProcalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP), and white blood cells (WBCs) are inflammatory markers used to diagnose severe bacterial infections. We evaluated the diagnostic role of these markers and compared their accuracy for spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) associated with chronic severe hepatitis B (CSHB).MethodsPCT and CRP concentrations, WBC count, and other hematological parameters were measured in serum from 84 well-characterized patients with CSHB, of whom 42 had SBP. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis was performed to assess the diagnostic accuracy.ResultsPCT and CRP concentrations were significantly higher in the CSHB patients with SBP (n=42) than CSHB patients without SBP (n=42). PCT and CRP concentrations were more accurate than WBC count for the diagnosis of CSHB-associated SBP. The optimal cutoff value of PCT was 0.48 ng/mL. The PCT concentration was significantly correlated with the CRP concentration and WBC count.ConclusionsSerum PCT and CRP seems to be better markers than WBC for the diagnosis of CSHB patients with SBP.

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