Clinical characteristics and prognosis in patients with high plasma level of procalcitonin: an analysis in 188 patients

Abstract

To investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients with high level of plasma procalcitonin (PCT > 100 μg/L), and to improve the clinician's understanding, diagnosis and treatment of this kind of patients. A retrospective study was conducted. The clinical data of patients with plasma PCT over 100 μg/L within 48 hours of admission admitted to Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine from February 2013 to December 2016 were collected, and the clinical characteristics were analyzed. The patients were divided into survival and death groups according to 28-day prognosis. The general data and laboratory parameters including vital signs, 24-hour urine output, routine blood test, blood biochemical tests, coagulation parameters, myocardial enzymes and arterial blood gas analysis were collected. The risk factors of mortality were analyzed using multi-logistic regression analysis. 188 patients with high level of plasma PCT were enrolled. There were 128 male patients (68.1%) with the average age of 62 (49, 75) years. Most patients were admitted in intensive care unit (ICU, 70.7%, 133/188). Major diagnosis was sepsis (91.0%), followed by multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS, 57.4%), post large operation of thorax and abdomen (20.7%), trauma/burns (13.8%) and post-cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR, 6.4%). Of all the 188 patients, 115 patients survived and 73 died with a mortality of 38.8%. The parameters in the death group, including the percentages of MODS (84.9% vs. 40.0%), trauma/burns (26.0% vs. 6.1%), post-CPR (13.7% vs. 1.7%), ventilator support (82.2% vs. 40.9%) and shock (100.0% vs. 60.0%), the numbers of principal diagnosis [2.0 (2.0, 3.0) vs. 2.0 (1.0, 2.0)], acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II score [APACHE II score: 24 (19, 28) vs. 14 (10, 16)] and sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score [16.0 (12.5, 18.0) vs. 9.0 (6.0, 12.0)], as well as liver function, coagulation parameters, myocardial enzymes and lactic acid (Lac) levels were significantly higher than those in the survival group, but the platelet (PLT) count in the death group was significantly lower than that in the survival group [×109/L: 62.00 (21.50, 111.00) vs. 93.00 (53.00, 136.00), all P < 0.05]. The parameters with statistical significance in the univariate analysis were enrolled in the multiple factor logistic regression analysis, which showed that patient with a high score of APACHE II [odds ratio (OR) = 1.290, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) = 1.121-1.484, P = 0.000] or the occurrence of MODS (OR = 7.264, 95%CI = 1.762-29.941, P = 0.006) at admission had a poor prognosis. The primary patients with high levels of plasma PCT (> 100 μg/L) were diagnosed with sepsis, MODS, trauma and post-CPR, complicated with respiratory and circulatory insufficiency. These factors of trauma, MODS and cardiac arrest, and some laboratory parameters including PLT, Lac, liver function, coagulation spectrum, and cardiac enzymes were correlated with the prognosis of the patients with high levels of plasma PCT. High APACHE II score and the incidence of MODS might be independent predictors of poor prognosis in the patients with high levels of plasma PCT.