• Nephrol. Dial. Transplant. · May 2001

    Procalcitonin for accurate detection of infection in haemodialysis.

    • S Herget-Rosenthal, G Marggraf, F Pietruck, J Hüsing, M Strupat, T Philipp, and A Kribben.
    • Division of Nephrology, University Hospital, University of Essen, D-45122 Essen, Germany.
    • Nephrol. Dial. Transplant. 2001 May 1; 16 (5): 975-9.

    BackgroundInfection results in considerable morbidity and mortality in haemodialysis patients. Diagnosis of infection can be difficult because currently applied laboratory parameters may be non-specifically altered due to uraemia or haemodialysis (HD). This study investigated the diagnostic value and kinetics of serum procalcitonin (PCT), a low-molecular-weight protein, in patients receiving intermittent HD.MethodsSixty-eight patients receiving intermittent HD for end-stage renal disease (n=48) or acute renal failure (n=20) were prospectively studied, 47 treated with high-flux and 21 with low-flux membranes. Of 36 patients with severe infections or sepsis, 27 were treated with high-flux and nine with low-flux membranes. WBC, serum PCT and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations were measured immediately before HD, and PCT repeatedly during the following 48 h.ResultsWhen determined immediately before HD, PCT demonstrated a sensitivity of 89%, a specificity of 81%, and positive and negative predictive values of 84 and 87%, indicating severe infection or sepsis. These levels were higher than the respective values for CRP (89, 48, 68 and 78%) and WBC (58, 75, 71 and 59%). After 4 h of HD with high-flux membranes, PCT decreased significantly to 83+/-25% and did not return to predialysis concentrations before 48 h. This decrease in serum PCT resulted in markedly reduced sensitivity (65%) and negative predictive value (54%). In contrast, no marked change in PCT concentration occurred during or after HD with low-flux membranes.ConclusionSerum PCT is an accurate indicator of severe infection and sepsis in patients receiving intermittent HD. High-flux membranes substantially decrease PCT. When utilizing high flux membranes, serum PCT concentrations should be determined prior to the start of HD.

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