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Procalcitonin, a marker of systemic inflammation response to peritonitis which contribute to therapies strategy

Introduction

Procalcitonin (PCT) was reported to be a specific marker for infection with a half-time of 25 hours. In ICU, differentiation between acute bacterial infection from other types of inflammation is often difficult in particular in postoperative period. The aim of this study was to assess the profile of time course of PCT in peritonitis patient after surgical and anti-effective therapies in ICU.

Methods

In a prospective study, we studied patients admitted in our ICU with peritonitis just after surgical procedure, between January 2000 and September 2000. PCT, CRP and cytokines (TNF, IL-6, IL-8) were measured at admission (J0), on second day (J2) and on fourth and seventh day (J4, J7). Prognostic indicators of severity were recorded on admission: Apache II, IGS II and SOFA score.

Results

Thirty-three consecutive patients (15 males and 18 females, mean age 60 ± 21 years, mean IGS II 47 ± 20, mean Apache II 20 ± 7, mean SOFA score 7 ± 4) were admitted in ICU. Mortality rate was 33% (11 patients), mean length of ICU stay was 15 ± 14 days.

Discussion

In peritonitis, PCT seems to be a specific marker of the intensity of inflammatory response to infection. Persistence of high PCT levels may be related to inefficacy of anti-infective therapies and therapeutic strategy must be discussed.

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Lepousé, C., Mériau, G., Delcourt, J. et al. Procalcitonin, a marker of systemic inflammation response to peritonitis which contribute to therapies strategy. Crit Care 5 (Suppl 1), P051 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1186/cc1119

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/cc1119

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