Abstract
Introduction Procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) are already known predictive markers in serious bacterial infections, and it is emphasized that these biomarkers can be used as a marker of increased mortality in critically ill patients. Herein, we aimed to evaluate the initial serum PCT and CRP levels on the outcome of patients in pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) and find out if these biomarkers can be used to predict mortality. Materials and Methods The relationship between the initial serum PCT and CRP levels and invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) and noninvasive mechanical ventilation (NIV) support, inotropic drug need, acute renal kidney injury (AKI), continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), mortality, and hospitalization period was investigated retrospectively. Results In total, 418 suitable patients (226 males and 192 females) were included in the study. Age distributions of patients ranged from 1 month to 17 years. There was a statistically significant relationship between PCT levels in the first biochemical analysis performed during admission and MV support, inotropic drug use, mortality, ARF, hospitalization in the intensive care unit, CRRT and blood component transfusion. There was a statistically significant relationship between CRP levels and MV support, NIV, inotropic drug use, mortality, AKI, hospitalization in the intensive care unit, CRRT, and blood component transfusion. Conclusion We suggest that the initial PCT and CRP levels during admission can be used to predict the outcome of patients in PICU.
Highlights
Procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) are already known predictive markers in serious bacterial infections, and it is emphasized that these biomarkers can be used as a marker of increased mortality in critically ill patients
Procalcitonin (PCT), an endogen peptide secreted in the C cells of thyroid tissue, is commonly used in the early diagnosis of sepsis and infectious diseases [1,2,3]. e PCT level is undetectable in plasma levels of healthy people, and the level rises in response to proinflammatory stimulus, mainly in serious bacterial infections [4]. ere are various studies on adults regarding the importance of PCT in the prognosis of sepsis and critically ill patients, but there is not adequate data on children
Twenty-nine patients were not included in the study because they did not meet the study criteria; 14 patients were excluded because they did not have initial CRP, PCT, and leucocyte analysis on admission
Summary
Procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) are already known predictive markers in serious bacterial infections, and it is emphasized that these biomarkers can be used as a marker of increased mortality in critically ill patients. We aimed to evaluate the initial serum PCT and CRP levels on the outcome of patients in pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) and find out if these biomarkers can be used to predict mortality. Ere was a statistically significant relationship between CRP levels and MV support, NIV, inotropic drug use, mortality, AKI, hospitalization in the intensive care unit, CRRT, and blood component transfusion. It is important to determine the severity and the prognostic factors of underlying disease to treat patients urgently and effectively in pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) For this reason, special scoring methods have been developed. With a different perspective, we aimed to evaluate the effect of initial PCT, CRP, and leucocyte levels on the outcome of critically ill patients and try to find out if these biomarkers can be used to predict mortality and morbidity of patients in PICU
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