PROCALCITONIN IN ACUTE RESPIRATORY INFECTION

作者：Osinska Iwona; Domagala Kulawik Joanna^*

来源：Postepy Biologii Komorki, 2012, 39(3): 415-427.

• procalcitonin
• community-acquired pneumonia
• bacterial infection
• viral infection
• COPD
• ventilator-associated pneumonia
• hospital-acquired pneumonia

The procalcitonin (PCT) is a precursor peptide from the hormone calcitonin (CT). PCT is used in diagnosis and monitoring of bacterial infections. In severe infections, such as sepsis, the PCT may reach very high concentrations in human serum (even up to 1000 ng/ml). The normal range is below 0.1 ng/ml. Procalcitonin secretion occurs in the classical or alternative pathway and the alternative pathway serves an important role in bacterial infections. The study presents the available methods of determination procalcitonin, both quantitative tests and qualitative tests. Immunoluminometric assay (ILMA) is a reference test for all commercially available quantitative PCT test and the main stage of this test is the antigen-antibody reaction. The role of semi-qualitative test (POCT) was presented, which benefit is rapid diagnosis of infection and appropriate treatment. Very useful is also the fully automated test for the procalcitonin determination. The significance of procalcitonin in acute respiratory infection was discussed. The bacterial infection may lead to an exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and hospital-acquired pneumonia or community-acquired pneumonia with increasing concentrations of procalcitonin. The results of many studies show that PCT can be used as a prognostic marker in patients with ventilation associated pneumonia. The determination of PCT concentration seems to be important in patients with lung disease. It lets to exclude false-positive diagnosis of infection and serves as the criterion for the decision on the use antibiotic therapy.