Increase of procalcitonin in infant muggy syndrome

Abstract

Objective To investigate the characteristics and clinical significance of increased procalcitonin(PCT) in infant muggy syndrome(IMS). Methods A total of 23 IMS cases admitted in PICU from Nov 2011 to Apr 2012 were enrolled.All cases were devided into three groups according to pediatric critical illness score, high risk group(n=5), medium risk group(n=12), and mild risk group(n=6). And 23 cases were also divided into infection group and no infection group according to baseline disease before onset.The relationship of PCT and pediatric critical illness score, primary infection and infection index were observed, and the possible causes of increased PCT in IMS were explored.Twenty age matched infants receiving examination in clinic served as control group. Results PCT increased significantly in IMS cases.The PCT level was(91.5±90.9) ng/ml in high risk group, (81.1±74.1) ng/ml in medium risk group, and(112.1±74.9) ng/ml in mild risk group, there were no significant differences among three groups(F=0.371, P=0.732). Other infection index like leukocyte conmt, neutrophil and C reactive protein in IMS group were higher than those in the control group, and the results had significant differences(P<0.05, respectively). The PCT level was(72.5±74.4) ng/ml in infection group, (101.5±76.6) ng/ml in no infection group, and there was no significant difference between two groups(t=0.873, P=0.392). There was no relevance between increase of PCT and the incidence of infection before IMS.But PCT had higher correlation to the body temperature after IMS(r=-0.362, P=0.049). Conclusion There is correlation between the increased PCT and fever in IMS, and fever in IMS would lead to inflammation and then resulted in the increase of PCT. Key words: Infant muggy syndrome; Procalcitonin