Calcitonin Precursor Research Articles

Procalcitonin serum level in patients with pemphigus vulgaris: can it be used as an inflammatory biomarker?

Procalcitonin (PCT) is a peptide precursor of calcitonin, considered as an infection marker in many settings. Recently, a few studies reported its rise in some inflammatory processes such as still's disease, anaphylactic shock and Kawasaki disease. To investigate the serum level of PCT in patients with pemphigus vulgaris (PV) and examine the relationship between serum level of PCT and the severity of disease. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 50 patients with PV, visited at a tertiary care hospital from August 2021 to May 2023. After recording the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients, PCT level as well as CRP and ESR levels were measured and analyzed. The median ESR, CRP and procalcitonin serum level for the patients was 6.40mm/hr, 11.00mg/dL and 0.025 ng/ml, respectively. Considering the mean serum PCT level of normal population which is reported as < 0.1 ng/ml, its level among our patients was in a normal range. A significant and positive correlation was observed between procalcitonin and ESR, as well as CRP. In opposite to PCT, CRP and ESR levels showed a significant and positive correlation with disease severity (P values: 0.002 and < 0.001, respectively). Our findings suggest that PCT might not be useful as a biomarker of inflammatory milieu or prognostic factor in patients with PV without any infection.

AACC Guidance Document on the Clinical Use of Procalcitonin.

Procalcitonin (PCT), a peptide precursor of the hormone calcitonin, is a biomarker whose serum concentrations are elevated in response to systemic inflammation caused by bacterial infection and sepsis. Clinical adoption of PCT in the United States has only recently gained traction with an increasing number of Food and Drug Administration-approved assays and expanded indications for use. There is interest in the use of PCT as an outcomes predictor as well as an antibiotic stewardship tool. However, PCT has limitations in specificity, and conclusions surrounding its utility have been mixed. Further, there is a lack of consensus regarding appropriate timing of measurements and interpretation of results. There is also a lack of method harmonization for PCT assays, and questions remain regarding whether the same clinical decision points may be used across different methods. This guidance document aims to address key questions related to the use of PCT to manage adult, pediatric, and neonatal patients with suspected sepsis and/or bacterial infections, particularly respiratory infections. The document explores the evidence for PCT utility for antimicrobial therapy decisions and outcomes prediction. Additionally, the document discusses analytical and preanalytical considerations for PCT analysis and confounding factors that may affect the interpretation of PCT results. While PCT has been studied widely in various clinical settings, there is considerable variability in study designs and study populations. Evidence to support the use of PCT to guide antibiotic cessation is compelling in the critically ill and in some lower respiratory tract infections but is lacking in other clinical scenarios, and evidence is also limited in the pediatric and neonatal populations. Interpretation of PCT results requires guidance from multidisciplinary care teams of clinicians, pharmacists, and clinical laboratorians.

Quartz crystal microbalance biosensor for the detection of procalcitonin

Procalcitonin is a blood protein and precursor of the hormone calcitonin. The procalcitonin level increases due to bacterial infections, sepsis, and other related pathologies. Here, we present a simple biosensor for procalcitonin assay suitable for point-of-care tests as an alternative to the current laboratory methods. The biosensor was based on a QCM piezoelectric sensor and a conjugate of gold nanoparticles-antibodies conjugate. It was suitable for the procalcitonin assay in biological samples and fully correlated to the standard ELISA method, and it did not suffer false positive or negative results or interferences. The detection limit was equal to 37.8 ng/l and the quantification limit to 104 ng/l for a sample of 25 μl. The dynamic range of the assay was 37.8 ng/l to 30.0 μg/l. The practical relevance of the biosensor is expected considering the findings, and the possible application of the assay principle for the development of biosensors for other markers is inferred.

Traumatic intestinal ischemic necrosis.

A 71-year-old male patient presented to our emergency department with a 1-day history of abdominal pain after an accidental fall. Laboratory test results were as follows: a white blood cell count of 2.32 × 109/L, blood lactate of 3.0 mmol/L, pH 7.30, calcitonin precursor level of 71.09 ng/ml, and creatinine of 115 umol/L. The abdominal CT revealed: portal vein gas accumulation (PVGA) accompanied by a fluid-air level; pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis (PCI) manifested as multiple gas collections within the wall of the lower small intestine. Based on lowered blood pH and elevated lactate levels, there was a high suspicion of small intestinal ischemic necrosis. Subsequent emergency laparotomy and pathological examination confirmed necrosis of the small intestine.

Prognostic value of procalcitonin in cancer patients with coronavirus disease 2019.

Many biomarkers have been studied to assist in the risk stratification and prognostication of patients infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Procalcitonin (PCT), a circulating precursor of the hormone calcitonin, has been studied with mixed results as a predictor of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the general population; however, to date, no studies have focused on the utility of PCT in predicting disease severity and death from COVID-19 in the cancer population. We conducted a retrospective study of cancer patients hospitalized with COVID-19 at a comprehensive cancer center over a 10-month period who had PCT recorded on admission. We assessed associations between variables of clinical interest and the primary outcomes ofprogression of COVID-19 and death during or within 30days of hospitalization using univariable and multivariable logistic regression. The study included 209 unique patients. In the univariate analysis, elevated PCT on admission was associated with higher odds of progression of COVID-19 or death (Odds ratio [OR] 1.40, 95% CI 1.08-1.93) and mortality alone (OR 1.53, 95% CI 1.17-2.11). In multivariate regression, PCT remained significantly associated with progression or death after holding chronic kidney disease (CKD) status constant (OR 1.40, 95% CI: 1.08, 1.93, p=0.003). Similarly, the association of PCT and death remained significant after adjusting for age (OR 1.54, 95% CI: 1.17-2.15). In hospitalized COVID-19 patients with underlying cancer, initial PCT levels on admission may beassociated with prognosis, involving higher odds of progression of COVID-19 and/or mortality.

Evaluation of Serum Procalcitonin and Other Kidney Function Test in Patients with Large Renal Stone

Background: Renal stone disease is a main cause for acute kidney injury . Renal stone can damage the tubular epithelial cells, which can lead to functional loss of the renal parenchyma. Procalcitonin (PCT) is a peptide precursor of the hormone calcitonin . PCT levels are marker for determine if a patient has an infection , bacteria selectively aggregate to crystal and that bacteria are associated with an increased number of crystal-crystal agglomerations. Bacteria-crystal aggregates bind to the tubular epithelium resulting in expression of stone matrix proteins in either renal tubular epithelium or inflammatory cells. Objective: To estimate serum procalcitonin (PCT) in primary renal stone patients and compare it with secondary renal stone group when renal stone size ≥ 1.5 cm. Subjects, Materials and Methods: This Cross-sectional Study was designed incorporation with college of Medicine , Mustansiriya university , chemistry and biochemistry Department . Samples were taken from Al Yarmouk teaching hospital in Bagdad , urology department . A total number of eighty eight (88) patients were registered (44 male ) and (44 female ) aged between (30-40) years. The total subjects were divided into two groups:Group I : Patients with Primary Renal Stone , Group II: Patients with Recurrent(secondary) renal stone . Results: Analysis of variance for serum PCT were significant , p ≤0.0001, indicating there were significant difference in serum PCT among renal stone size in primary renal stone group and recurrent(secondary) renal stone group . Conclusion: Serum procalcitonin increased significantly in patients with recurrent renal stone disease ,therefore, it is considered as a predictor of kidney stone disease. Keywords: Serum Procalcitonin , Primary Renal stone , Secondary Renal stone , Serum uric acid , and Serum Albumin .

Using procalcitonin testing to guide treatment decisions in care homes.

Procalcitonin (PCT), a precursor of the hormone calcitonin, has emerged as a marker of bacterial infection that appears to be particularly useful in respiratory conditions. PCT testing has been shown to be beneficial in supporting healthcare professionals with their decision-making about treatment. It also has particular advantages in relation to the care of older people, notably in terms of assessment, recognising sepsis, reducing polypharmacy and informing antibiotic prescribing. This article discusses PCT testing in care homes and how its use can support nurses working in such settings to provide optimal care to residents. The article is underpinned by the latest evidence on PCT testing and the author's clinical experience as an advanced nurse practitioner working in a care home.

Electrochemical Immunosensors for Quantification of Procalcitonin: Progress and Prospects

Human procalcitonin (PCT) is a peptide precursor of the calcium-regulating hormone calcitonin. Traditionally, PCT has been used as a biomarker for severe bacterial infections and sepsis. It has also been recently identified as a potential marker for COVID-19. Normally, serum PCT is intracellularly cleaved to calcitonin, which lowers the levels of PCT (&lt;0.01 ng/mL). In severe infectious diseases and sepsis, serum PCT levels increase above 100 ng/mL in response to pro-inflammatory stimulation. Development of sensors for specific quantification of PCT has resulted in considerable improvement in the sensitivity, linear range and rapid response. Among the various sensing strategies, electrochemical platforms have been extensively investigated owing to their cost-effectiveness, ease of fabrication and portability. Sandwich-type electrochemical immunoassays based on the specific antigen–antibody interactions with an electrochemical transducer and use of nanointerfaces has augmented the electrochemical response of the sensors towards PCT. Identification of a superior combination of electrode material and nanointerface, and translation of the sensing platform into flexible and disposable substrates are under active investigation towards development of a point-of-care device for PCT detection. This review provides an overview of the existing detection strategies and limitations of PCT electrochemical immunosensors, and the emerging directions to address these lacunae.

Maternal serum procalcitonin levels in prediction of chorioamnionitis in women with preterm premature rupture of membranes.

IntroductionChorioamnionitis is one of the most important maternal complications in the expectant management of patients with preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM). Procalcitonin (proCT), the precursor of the hormone calcitonin, is used to differentiate bacterial infections from non-bacterial ones. The objective of the study was to determine the efficacy of maternal serum procalcitonin levels in the early prediction of chorioamnionitis in women with PPROM.Material and methodsThe study was conducted in 76 pregnant women hospitalized due to PPROM at the maternal-fetal medicine unit of a tertiary center in Istanbul. Patients were followed up with white blood cell (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP) and proCT levels every 2 days. The values of investigated parameters were recorded at the diagnosis of PPROM and at the time of delivery. The maximum values during the follow-up period were also recorded.ResultsOut of the 76 patients with PPROM, 15 (19.73%) developed clinical chorioamnionitis. No significant difference could be detected in the gravidity, parity, duration of hospitalization and gestational week at diagnosis between those patients who developed clinical chorioamnionitis and those who did not. The WBC at the time of hospital admittance and before delivery, and CRP levels before delivery were statistically higher in the chorioamnionitis group (p < 0.05). No difference in the proCT levels could be detected either at the time of hospital admittance or before delivery between the two groups.ConclusionsMaternal proCT was not found to be predictive of chorioamnionitis. However, since there are reports in the literature that contradict these results, further studies are warranted to determine the true efficacy of proCT in the prediction of clinical chorioamnionitis.

Interrelationships Between Serum Levels of Procalcitonin and Inflammatory Markers

Abstract Various laboratory markers are utilized in general practice to detect inflammation, and procalcitonin (PCT) has also been routinely measured in many patients as a marker of bacterial infection and sepsis. An increase in PCT starts before an increase in C-reactive protein (CRP), and PCT level is useful not only for the diagnosis of bacterial infection, sepsis, as an indicator of the severity and prognosis of systemic inflammatory diseases, and is also useful for determination of the response to individual treatment. PCT is a precursor of calcitonin and PCT is not produced in a healthy state but is produced by various tissues in septic conditions. Since there are many patients with elevated levels of PCT due to nonbacterial causes, the levels of serum PCT have been apt to be used for a marker for the early detection of not only bacterial infection but also many inflammatory and/or febrile disorders including fever of unknown origin (FUO) in the clinical setting of general medicine. Here we attempted to clarify the differences and similarities of inflammatory markers for a clinical setting. We retrospectively reviewed 359 patients in whom serum PCT had been measured. According to our earlier study, the patients were categorized into 7 groups: bacterial, non-bacterial infection, non-specific inflammation, neoplasm, connective tissue disease (CTD), drug-induced diseases, and unidentified causes. Data for 332 PCT-positive cases including cases of bacterial infection (20.5%), non-specific inflammation (20.8%), neoplasm (9.9%), CTD (8.4%), and non-bacterial infection (7.2%) were used for analysis. Serum PCT level was highest in the bacterial infection group (1.94 ng/ml) followed by the non-specific inflammatory group (0.58 ng/ml) and neoplastic diseases group (0.34 ng/ml). Of note, serum PCT level was positively correlated with serum levels of C-reactive protein (R2=0.39), soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R; R2=0.48), and ferritin, plasma level of D-dimer level and white blood cell count, whereas it was negatively correlated with serum albumin level (R2=0.27), hemoglobin concentration and platelet count. The result of the strongly positive correlation with serum level of sIL-2R suggested that an increased serum PCT level may indicate not only an inflammatory state but also a neoplastic state such as malignant lymphomas in the diagnostic process of various inflammatory disorders in a clinical setting of general practice for diagnosing febrile conditions.

Quantification Series of Procalcitonin Decides the Conceivable Bacterial Infection among Vital Organs

Sepsis is the occurrence of infection in association with the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). Bacterial sepsis is one of the major illnesses that shows severe symptoms which leads to organ dysfunction. Procalcitonin (PCT) the precursor of the hormone calcitonin shows a huge impact on the diagnosis of sepsis caused by the bacterial infection. Many studies have also insisted the importance of PCT as a biomarker for sepsis. As early diagnosis is the key factor to overcome the difficulties of the sepsis, PCT acts a prominent diagnostic tool to acquire the desired results. This study focused on the role of PCT in correlation with supporting parameters of the vital organs such as renal markers, liver enzymes and pancreatic enzymes to reduce the organ dysfunction and its complications. Keywords: Sepsis, procalcitonin, renal markers, liver enzymes, pancreatic enzymes.

Is procalcitonin a good marker for Acinetobacter infections?

Aim: Culture is the most important method in the diagnosis of infectious diseases, but with the results of culture, the diagnosis can be made late. Therefore proinflammatory markers are used for early diagnosis of infections. Procalcitonin (PCT), a precursor of calcitonin, takes part in the systemic reaction caused by circulating endotoxins and inflammatory cytokines. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential usefulness of PCT in the acinetobacter or non-acinetobacter related infection diseases. Material and Method: In this study, 63 patients with Acinetobacter spp. and 33 patients with infections due to other bacterial agents were included. Leukocyte count, C-reactive protein (CRP) and PCT were used as inflammation markers. Findings / Results: In terms of PCT value between two groups, there was a statistically significant difference. The non - acinetobacter group had higher PCT levels than acinetobacter group. CRP and White blood cell (WBC) levels were not statistically significant difference between two groups. Conclusion: According to this study PCT may be not a useful marker for acinetobacter infections as early predictive value.

Is procalcitonin a good marker for Acinetobacter infections?

Introduction / Aim: Culture is the most important method in the diagnosis of infectious diseases, but with the results of culture, the diagnosis can be made late. Therefore proinflammatory markers are used for early diagnosis of infections. Procalcitonin (PCT), a precursor of calcitonin, takes part in the systemic reaction caused by circulating endotoxins and inflammatory cytokines. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential usefulness of PCT in the acinetobacter or non-acinetobacter related infection diseases. Material and Method: In this study, 63 patients with Acinetobacter spp. and 33 patients with infections due to other bacterial agents were included. Leukocyte count, C-reactive protein (CRP) and PCT were used as inflammation markers. Findings / Results: In terms of PCT value between two groups, there was a statistically significant difference. The non - acinetobacter group had higher PCT levels than acinetobacter group. CRP and White blood cell (WBC) levels were not statistically significant difference between two groups. Conclusion: According to this study PCT may be not a useful marker for acinetobacter infections as early predictive value.

Procalcitonin Detection in Veterinary Species: Investigation of Commercial ELISA Kits.

Simple SummaryAmong sepsis biomarkers, procalcitonin resulted to be a specific indicator of bacterial infection or severity of infection, and to be a good control of the success of a therapeutic procedure. The clinical studies on the relevance of procalcitonin as a sepsis predictor in veterinary patients are few, likely due to the total absence of validated assays. For this reason, this study aimed to investigate commercial ELISA kits for the detection of canine and equine procalcitonin. Validation was performed evaluating linearity, limits of detection (LOD), recovery, and intra-assay and inter-assay variability; furthermore, clinical samples were analyzed. The results of the present study demonstrate that the human PCT ELISA kit is suitable to detect equine procalcitonin with a LOD of 56 ng/mL, and the canine recombinant PCT ELISA kit can be used to measure canine procalcitonin in plasma samples, showing an intra-assay and inter-assay coefficient of variation less than 20% and a LOD of 11 pg/mL.In human medicine, procalcitonin (PCT), the precursor of calcitonin, is used for the rapid identification of the origin and severity of sepsis. In veterinary medicine, PCT has been studied in horses, cattle, and dogs, but the use of PCT in diagnostic and/or prognostic settings is not possible because of the lack of validated assays to obtain reference ranges. The aim of the present study was the investigation of commercially available ELISA kits for the detection of canine and equine PCT in plasma samples. Validation of the ELISA kits was performed by using species-specific recombinant proteins spiked both in plasma and buffer samples; linearity, limit of detection (LOD), recovery, and intra-assay and inter-assay variability were calculated. Moreover, clinical samples obtained from sick and healthy animals were also analyzed with the tested kits. Canine PCT was measured with a recombinant canine and a canine PCT ELISA kit. Equine PCT was measured with an equine and a human ELISA PCT kit. Our data demonstrate that the canine recombinant PCT ELISA kit can be used to measure canine PCT in plasma samples, showing an intra-assay and inter-assay coefficient of variation less than 20% and a LOD of 11 pg/mL, whereas the present results do not support the use of the canine PCT ELISA kit. The human PCT ELISA kit is suitable to detect equine PCT with a LOD of 56 ng/mL, whereas the equine PCT ELISA kit did not detect recombinant equine PCT.

Serumski biomarkeri sepse

Sepsis is an innate immunological response of the systemic inflammatory pathway to infection, and is growing problem worldwide inn terms of mortality rates. Rapid molecular based tests have been developed to address this need but are not always accurate in this respect. The most commonly used biomarkers specially the serum markers are reviewed for their current uses and the diagnostic accuracies. Challenges that are faced during biomarker research lied in the lack of uniform protocol and methodology. define sepsis to be a systemic inflammatory response to a bacteria, virus or fungi. In clinical setting several other physiological symptoms must be presented to properly diagnose sepsis. The gold standard of sepsis diagnosis has been traditionally the use of microbial cultures to identify the source of illness. The major limitation of using cultures in the length of the time required to develop cultures to identifiable quantities to detect sepsis. The gold standard of sepsis diagnosis has been traditionally the use of microbial cultures to identify the source of illness. The major limitation of using cultures in the length of the time required to develop cultures to identifiable quantities to detect sepsis. Biomarkers for the Infections caused by Bacteria: C-reactive protein is the general acute phase reactant protein, Procalcitonin is a precursor of the hormone calcitonin and is another potent biomarker for bacterial infections, Serum Amyloid A is an important apolipoprotein, Biomarkers for the Infections caused by Fungi. Mannan and Antimannan antibodies are used to detect the fungal infections due to the presence of mannan in the cell walls of the invasive fungal pathogens. The main disadvantage Mannan and Antimannan antibodies test alone is the high rate of false positives and negatives. Biomarkers for Viral Infections: Interferon Gamma inducible protein 10 (IP-10) IP-10 a proinflammatory chemokine is an important biomarker for diagnosing viral infections. Other Biomarkers on Avenue: IL10, Lipopolysaccharide Binding Protein, Soluble triggering receptor, TLRs, Toll like Receptors 2 (TLR-2) and Neutrophil CD64 receptors, CD163, Micro RNAs, SNP, TNF Alpha, IL-1. Sepsis, as an increasing cause of mortality in the group of multiple injured and critically ill patients in the ICU, requires rapid diagnosis and treatment, and hence the importance of biomarkers is highly important.

State of competition: conceptual shoehorning behind priority on calcitonin precursor biosynthesis

Until the 1950s, the first results in the studies of calcitonin-thyrocalcitonin were ignored in the accepted research scheme. However, it was José Fernández Nonídez from the Spanish School of Histology, died in Augusta (Georgia, USA) in 1947, whose expertise in the parafollicular cells of the mammalian thyroid had led him to an advanced understanding of this separate endocrine organ, which secretes calcitonin. The antecedent of the secretion was present in the cytoplasm of these cells, which Nonídez explained in a paper published in 1932. In 1973, a Spanish group from the Instituto Gregorio Marañón (Madrid) leading the research into the ectopic production of calcitonin identified the precursor responsible for its biosynthesis. Nonetheless, given the informal power in connection with the communication between the scientists, this significative contribution was absolutely discarded in terms of acknowledgment within their social circle. The services responsible for dissemination of scientific knowledge considered that priority should be given to another group of young scientists dedicated to pro-calcitonin evidence. The nature and extent of informal communication are highlighted in countries with different measures to guarantee the autonomy and independence of their state powers. Irrespectively of political circumstances, the paper is focused on the competition between two different approaches in science particularly important for progress in medicine: the perspective presented by experimental studies in basic sciences (in animals) and the models developed in clinical sciences. Stan rywalizacji: priorytetowe znaczenie biosyntezy prekursora kalcytoniny i zniekształcenia pojęciowe Abstrakt Do lat 50. XX w. nie uwzględniano w przyjętym schemacie badawczym pierwszych dowodów przemawiających za istnieniem kalcytoniny-tyrokalcytoniny. Jednakże, znajomość przez José Fernándeza Nonídeza (z hiszpańskiej szkoły histologii, który zmarł w Augusta (Georgia, USA) w 1947 r.) komórek pęcherzykowych tarczycy ssaków doprowadziła go do zaawansowanego rozumienia tarczycy jako odrębnego narządu endokrynnego, wydzielającego kalcytoninę. W artykule opublikowanym w 1932 r. Nonídez wyjaśnił, że prekursor wydzielania znajdował się w cytoplazmie komórek tarczycy. W 1973 r. hiszpańska grupa z Instituto Gregorio Marañón (Madryt), prowadząca badania nad ektopowym wydzielaniem kalcytoniny, zidentyfikowała prekursora odpowiedzialnego za biosyntezę kalcytoniny. Niemniej jednak, biorąc pod uwagę nieformalną władzę związaną z komunikacją między naukowcami, znaczący wkład Nonídeza został absolutnie odrzucony i nie zdobył uznania w tej grupie społecznej. Upowszechnianie usług wiedzy naukowej spowodowało, że przyznano priorytet odkrycia grupie młodych naukowców zajmujących się badaniami pro-kalcytoniny. Podkreślono charakter i zakres nieformalnej komunikacji w krajach, które wykorzystują różne środki dla zagwarantowania autonomii i niezależności uprawnień państwowych. Niezależnie od uwarunkowań politycznych artykuł koncentruje się na konkurencji między dwoma różnymi podejściami w nauce, szczególnie ważnymi dla postępu w medycynie: perspektywą przedstawioną w badaniach eksperymentalnych w naukach podstawowych (u zwierząt) i modelach opracowanych w naukach klinicznych.

Clinical Progress Note: Procalcitonin in the Diagnosis and Management of Community-Acquired Pneumonia in Hospitalized Adults.

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) accounts for more than 1.5 million adult hospitalizations and 100,000 deaths each year in the United States.1 Antibiotic overuse in the hospital setting is an important contributor to the rise of antibiotic resistance, prompting increased efforts to limit inappropriate antibiotic use in hospitals.2 Procalcitonin, a precursor of the hormone calcitonin, is upregulated in bacterial infections and downregulated in viral infections. The US Food and Drug Administration has approved it as a serum biomarker to assist clinicians with decisions about using antibiotics.3 There is no consensus on how to best use procalcitonin in the management of CAP. We provide a practical update that includes a review of recent literature, added secondary analysis, and expert opinion surrounding the use of procalcitonin in the diagnosis and management of CAP in hospitalized adults.

A semi-quantitative rapid multi-range gradient lateral flow immunoassay for procalcitonin.

A rapid semi-quantitative gradient lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) of procalcitonin (PCT), a peptide precursor of the hormone calcitonin, was developed. The method is based on particular analyte cut-offs by immobilizing specific antibodies on the test strip with a consistent (gradient) increase in concentration from line to line. Semi-quantitative multi-range analysis is evaluated visually by counting the number of colored test lines corresponding to a certain concentration range of sepsis marker: [PCT]˂0.25; 0.25 ≤ [PCT] < 0.5; 0.5 ≤ [PCT] < 2; 2 ≤ [PCT] < 10; [PCT] ≥ 10ng·mL-1. This multi-range gradient LFIA was implemented by using two types of label: spherical gold nanoparticles (35nm) and hierarchical popcorn-like gold nanoparticles (100nm). The comparison of this LFIA with an ELISA (for n= 82) yielded 87.5% and 76.6% sensitivities, and 92.3% and 92.3% specificities, respectively. Thus, multi-range gradient LFIA performs well at PCT thresholds, which is important for early diagnosis of sepsis and severe bacterial infection. In our perception, this method has a wide scope in that it may be implemented in numerous other LFIA based test systems. Graphical abstract Schematic of the gradient lateral flow immunoassay for determination of clinically relevant procalcitonin ranges. It allows to reach the correlation between the number of developed test lines and procalcitonin concentration range in serum by pre-immobilization of capture antibodies in a consistently (gradient) increasing concentration.

Procalcitonin as a Marker of the Systemic Inflammatory Response to Infection on Newborn and Children (up to 1 year)

In the last years, procalcitonin (PCT) has been proposed as an early marker of infections in newborns having registered different results. In this study, we aimed to investigate the value of serum procalcitonin for the diagnosis of sepsis in neonates and children procalcitonin in the diagnosis of neonatal sepsis and in children up to 1 year in the pathology of therespiratory system, gastrointestinal pathology, etc. At first, we established the clinical and paraclinical signs of systemic inflammation: increasing the temperature of the system, tachycardia, laboratory test: leukocytosis, C-reactive protein - for the diagnosis of sepsis.Some studies show that PCT gave a sensitivity between 83-100% and a specificity between 70-100% in early diagnosis of neonatal sepsis [1-7]; other researches question the accuracy of PCT in detecting neonatal sepsis.Procalcitonin (PCT) has been proposed as a marker of bacterial sepsis in critically ill patients. PCT is a precursor of calcitonin and a 116 amino acids protein. PCT levels more than 0.5 mg/dl are useful to determine the type of infectious process (bacterial or not).

Interplay of serum procalcitonin and renal tissue caspase 3 as diagnostic markers of sepsis in lipopolysaccharide rat model of sepsis

Background :Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by infection and its rapid, accurate diagnosis is a huge burden. Renal failure induced by sepsis is still an exasperating problem in the clinical inquiry. Aim: This paper examines a new biomarker; serum procalcitonin (PCT) in the diagnosis of sepsis. PCT is a a calcitonin precursor secreted mainly from the thyroid gland. PCT efficacy in diagnosis of sepsis and the accompanying renal cell dysfunction by the expected successive apoptosis after sepsis were explored. Methods: 40 adult male albino rats were divided into: The control group: received intra‌peritoneal saline (IP) and LPS injected group: received 10 mg/kg of lipopolysaccharides (LPS), from Escherichia coli IP once. The rats were monitored using a mouse clinical assessment score (M-CASS) for 48 hours. Body temperature, blood pressure and serum glucose level ,leucocytic count , serum creatinine and urea and serum procalcitonin were estimated . Immunohistochemical staining of caspase 3-cellular expression in renal tissue.Results: increase mortility rate in septic rats. PCT was significantly increased in septic rats with high sensitivity and specificity. Significantly increased serum urea and creatinine, reduced blood glucose, and increased renal caspase 3 expression were exhibited in the LPS injected group. Tachycardia, hypotension and hypothermia were highly significantly increased in the LPS injected group. The behavioral changes were all detected after LPS injection. Conclusion: Serum procalcitonin is a noval, accurate and specific biomarker in the diagnosis of sepsis and its associated renal dysfunction, explained by increase in renal tissue caspase 3 expression.