Nephrology, dialysis, transplantation : official publication of the European Dialysis and Transplant Association - European Renal Association
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Nephrol. Dial. Transplant. · May 2001
Procalcitonin for accurate detection of infection in haemodialysis.
Infection 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. ⋯ Serum 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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Nephrol. Dial. Transplant. · May 2001
Procalcitonin: a new marker of inflammation in haemodialysis patients?
Although procalcitonin (PCT) has been described as a new marker of infection and inflammation, it has not been extensively studied in dialysis patients. ⋯ PCT in haemodialysis patients is positively correlated with currently used markers of inflammation such as CRP and fibrinogen, and negatively correlated with markers of nutritional status such as albumin. The concomitant elevations in PCT and CRP could be more sensitive in the evaluation of inflammation than each marker separately.