Clin Exp Rheumatol
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Diagnostic value of procalcitonin measurement in febrile patients with systemic autoimmune diseases.
To determine the usefulness of plasma procalcitonin (PCT) measurement to suspect infectious etiology in febrile patients with systemic autoimmune disease. ⋯ Our data indicate that elevated PCT concentrations offer good sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of systemic bacterial infection in febrile patients with systemic autoimmune diseases. However, in fever associated with AOSD PCT may be elevated even in the absence of infectious complication.