Table 2 Procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP), and lactate plasma levels at various severities of organ dysfunction, categorised according to four groups of the sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score, comparing patients with and without infection and trauma

PCT (ng/ml)

   1–6 (n = 180/377)

0.14 (0.08/0.33)

0.62 (0.24/2.12)

< 0.001

0.25 (0.08–0.9) (n = 368)

   7–12 (n = 24/132)

0.25 (0.2/0.3)

2.43 (1.2/8.68)

< 0.001

5.54 (0.86–12.87) (n = 88)

   13–18 (n = 1/30)

0.41

8.5 (3.39/29.59)

n.s.

54 (15.58–122.4) (n = 9)

   19–24 (n = 0/13)

-

23.24 (2.28/50.9)

-

-

   Pearson's correlation

0.108 (P = n.s.)

0.247 (P < 0.001)

0.465 (P <0.001)

   Regression, y = a + bx

0.27 + 0.02 × SOFA score

-0.84 + 1.526 × SOFA score

< 0.02

-5 + 2.16 × SOFA score

CRP (mg/l)

   1–6 (n = 180/377)

68 (28/121)

121 (68/176)

< 0.001

91 (49.8–148) (n = 368)

   7–12 (n = 24/132)

47(15/81)

181 (78/271)

< 0.001

110 (64–151) (n = 88)

   13–18 (n = 1/30)

12.3

183 (128/219)

n.s.

94 (n = 9)

   19–24 (n = 0/13)

-

154 (9.6/308)

-

-

   Pearson's correlation

0.069 (P = n.s.)

0.286 (P < 0.001)

0.095 (P = n.s.)

   Regression, y = a + bx

84.53 - 0.19 × SOFA score

105.58 + 0.72 × SOFA score

< 0.001

95 + 0.24 × SOFA score

Lactate (mmol/l)

   1–6 (n = 180/377)

1.21 (0.96/1.44)

1.3 (1.04/1.69)

n.s.

1.1 (0.86–1.51) (n = 368)

   7–12 (n = 24/132)

1.55 (1.22/3.54)

1.69 (1.2/2.2)

n.s.

2.09(1.19–2.61) (n = 88)

   13–18 (n = 1/30)

2.8

3.07 (2.25/3.59)

n.s.

5.58 (n = 9)

   19–24 (n = 0/13)

-

3.69 (3.52/5)

-

-

   Pearson's correlation

0.350 (P < 0.002)

0.382 (P < 0.001)

0.431 (P <0.001)

   Regression, y = a + bx

0.918 + 0.14 × SOFA score

0.968 + 0.12 × SOFA score

n.s.

0.516 + 0.235 × SOFA score