Journal article
Clinical Applications of Procalcitonin in Pediatrics: An Advanced Biomarker for Inflammation and Infection—Can It Also Be Used in Trauma?
International scholarly research notices, v 2014, 286493
2014
PMID: 27355024
Abstract
Background. Procalcitonin is a small molecular peptide that has gained increased support as an adjunct diagnostic marker of infection in the adult population; the concordant body of evidence for the use of procalcitonin in pediatric populations is far less complete. Objectives. Our objective is to review the current evidence supporting the utilization of procalcitonin in children in a variety of clinical scenarios including SIRS, sepsis, burns, and trauma and to identify existing knowledge gaps. Methods. A thorough review of the literature was performed utilizing PubMed. We focused on using meta-analysis from adult populations to review current practices in interpretation and methodology and find concordant pediatric studies to determine if the same applications are validated in pediatric populations. Results. Current evidence supports the usage of procalcitonin as both a sensitive and a specific marker for the differentiation of systemic inflammatory response syndrome from sepsis in pediatrics with increased diagnostic accuracy compared to commonly used biomarkers including complete blood counts and C-reactive protein. Conclusions. Although the body of evidence is limited, initial observations suggest that procalcitonin can be used in pediatric trauma and burn patients as both a prognostic and a diagnostic marker, aiding in the identification of infection in patients with extensive underlying inflammation.
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Details
- Title
- Clinical Applications of Procalcitonin in Pediatrics: An Advanced Biomarker for Inflammation and Infection—Can It Also Be Used in Trauma?
- Creators
- Ioannis Koutroulis - St. Christopher's Hospital for ChildrenSteven M. Loscalzo - St. Christopher's Hospital for ChildrenPanagiotis Kratimenos - St. Christopher's Hospital for ChildrenSabina Singh - St. Christopher's Hospital for ChildrenEvan Weiner - St. Christopher's Hospital for ChildrenVassiliki Syriopoulou - National and Kapodistrian University of AthensStamatios Theocharis - National and Kapodistrian University of AthensGeorgios Chrousos - National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
- Contributors
- Raffaele Pezzilli (Editor)
- Publication Details
- International scholarly research notices, v 2014, 286493
- Publisher
- Hindawi Publishing Corporation
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Pediatrics; Emergency Medicine
- Other Identifier
- 991021838699804721