This study explores the role of procalcitonin (PCT) in predicting the outcome of sepsis. In a prospective multicentre observational investigation, blood was sampled within 24 h of onset of sepsis in 1156 hospitalised patients; 234 were in the intensive care unit (ICU) at the point of presentation of sepsis while 922 were not. ⋯ Among patients whose sepsis presented in ICU, mortality was 25.6% in those with PCT ≤0.85 ng/mL but 45.3% in those with PCT >0.85 ng/mL (P=0.002; OR for death: 2.404; 95% CI: 1.385-4.171). It is concluded that PCT cut-off concentrations can contribute to predicting the outcome of sepsis and might be of particular value in identifying patients who would benefit from ICU admission.
E J Giamarellos-Bourboulis, I Tsangaris, Th Kanni, M Mouktaroudi, I Pantelidou, G Adamis, S Atmatzidis, M Chrisofos, V Evangelopoulou, F Frantzeskaki, P Giannopoulos, G Giannikopoulos, D Gialvalis, G M Gou... more rgoulis, K Kotzampassi, K Katsifa, G Kofinas, F Kontopidou, G Koratzanis, V Koulouras, A Koutsikou, M Koupetori, I Kritselis, L Leonidou, A Mega, V Mylona, H Nikolaou, S Orfanos, P Panagopoulos, E Paramythiotou, A Papadopoulos, X Papanikolaou, M Pavlaki, V Polychronopoulos, A Skoutelis, A Theodotou, M Vassiliaghou, E E Douzinas, C Gogos, A Armaganidis, and Hellenic Sepsis Study Group. less
4th Department of Internal Medicine, University of Athens, Medical School, Athens, Greece. giamarel@ath.forthnet.gr