PCT and D-D in diagnosis of infections at emergency department

Abstract

Objective To explore the value of procalcitonin (PCT) and D-dimer (D-D) in the diagnosis of infections at emergency department. Methods 475 infected patients treated at our department from February, 2014 to February, 2016 were selected as study objects. Their clinical data, including the levels of PCT and D-D and acute physiological and chronic health scores (APACHE II, were retrospectively analyzed. The changes of PCT and D-D levels in infected patients at emergency department infection and its association with APACHEⅡwere analyzed. PCT>0.5 mg/L. Results The patients’ APACHEⅡscore significantly increased with the levels of PCT and D-D (P 0.5 mg/L and D-D >250 mg/L than in the patients with PCT > 0.5 mg/L or D-D>250 mg/L and in the patients with PCT≤0.5 mg/L and D-D≤250 mg/L (P <0.05). PCT and D-D positively correlated with APACHEⅡ score (P <0.05). PCT positively correlated with D-D (P <0.05). Conclusions In the diagnosis of infections at emergency department, PCT combined with D-D detection is helpful in judging the degree of the patients’ disease conditions, and it have an important clinical significance. Key words: Procalcitonin; D-dimer; APACHE Ⅱ; Emergency department; Infection