Clinical utility of procalcitonin in bacterial infections in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Infections are major contributor to morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing bone marrow transplant (BMT).

OBJECTIVE:

To assess role of serum procalcitonin (PCT) as a useful biomarker for the infections and outcomes in these patients.

METHODS:

Retrospective observational study.

RESULTS:

Total 47 patients with febrile episodes were enrolled. Twenty patients underwent autologous BMT and 27 underwent allogeneic BMT. Bacterial infections were documented in 18/47 (38%) patients. Forty patients were neutropenic. The median fever duration was 10 days (range 3-30 days) in positive procalcitonin level group whereas it was 4 days (range 1-18) in negative group. This was statistically significant (P=0.000). Procalcitonin levels were high in 8/9 episodes of sepsis (P=0.029). Intensive care unit transfers and death were significantly higher in PCT positive group as compared to PCT negative group.

CONCLUSION:

Serum procalcitonin levels provide prognostic information of worse outcome in patients undergoing HSCT.

• Authors: Amit Bansal, Preethi Jeyaraman, S K Gupta, Nitin Dayal, Rahul Naithani
• Journal: American journal of blood research (Am J Blood Res) Vol. 10 Issue 6 Pg. 339-344 ( 2020) ISSN: 2160-1992 [Print] United States
• PMID: 33489442 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: AJBR Copyright © 2020.