• Yu-Bin Xing, Lu-Ming Dai, Zhi-Huan Zhao, Zhi-Wei Li, and Chao Li.
• Departement of Respiratory Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical College, Kunming 650032, Yunnan, China.
• Zhongguo Wei Zhong Bing Ji Jiu Yi Xue. 2008 Jan 1;20(1):23-8.

ObjectiveTo study the diagnostic and prognostic value of procalcitonin (PCT), common inflammatory markers combining with scores for estimating organ failure of infection related organs (SOFA) in patients with sepsis in early stage.MethodsPatients were observed continuously in a perspective study with diagnostic tests. According to the definition of ACCP/SCCM Consensus Conference, patients were classified into 5 groups, including non-systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) (control) group, SIRS group, sepsis group, severe sepsis group and septic shock group. Indexes of inflammation, SOFA and concentration of PCT were determined at 24 hours, and their correlation was analyzed.ResultsTwo hundred and eight patients were enrolled, including 59 in non-SIRS group, 57 in SIRS group, 52 in sepsis group, 28 in severe sepsis group and 12 in septic shock group. PCT concentrations were positively correlated with the severity of sepsis. Spearman's correlation coefficient was 0.909 (P=0.000). According to the receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC-curves) analysis principle, ROC curves were drawn and areas under these curves (AUC) was calculated. In the diagnosis of sepsis, AUC values were 0.936+/-0.020 for PCT, 0.973+/-0.011 for SOFA (both P=0.000). The best cutoff values in the diagnosis of sepsis were 0.375 microg/L for PCT, and 3. 5 for SOFA score. The Youden index of PCT and SOFA scores was 0.808 and 0.801, respectively. Binary Logistic regression analysis confirmed that PCT and SOFA score were highly correlated with sepsis (OR=84.794,10.761, respectively, both P=0.000) after eliminating confusion factors including age and C-reactive protein (CRP) etc.. PCT and SOFA score could be used to predict the incidence of sepsis. SOFA score was the best prognostic indicator of sepsis (OR=2.084, P=0.0002).ConclusionThe traditional inflammatory markers and CRP are useful parameters to differentiate SIRS from non-SIRS, but are not reliable indicators for the early diagnosis in patients with sepsis. PCT is more specific indicator in early diagnosis of sepsis to differentiate from SIRS. PCT combining with SOFA score can be used to predict the incidence of sepsis. SOFA score can be used to define objectively the severity of sepsis according to PCT level and is helpful for estimation of prognosis in patients with sepsis.

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