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Procalcitonin as a marker of respiratory disorder in neonates
Author(s) -
Ochi Fumihiro,
Higaki Takashi,
Ohta Masaaki,
Yamauchi Toshifumi,
Tezuka Mari,
Chisaka Toshiyuki,
Moritani Tomozo,
Tauchi Hisamichi,
Ishii Eiichi
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
pediatrics international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.49
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1442-200X
pISSN - 1328-8067
DOI - 10.1111/ped.12505
Subject(s) - medicine , respiratory distress , gastroenterology , procalcitonin , meconium aspiration syndrome , respiratory system , tachypnea , white blood cell , meconium , sepsis , anesthesia , pregnancy , fetus , tachycardia , biology , genetics
Background Serum procalcitonin ( PCT ) increases in various respiratory disorders such as acute respiratory distress syndrome. Elevated PCT is also observed in healthy neonates. In this study, we investigated whether PCT is a good marker of respiratory disorder in neonates. Methods A total of 155 neonates with or without respiratory disorder, were eligible for the study. PCT was measured on electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. Each neonate was allocated to the non‐respiratory disorder (control) group ( n = 95), or a respiratory disorder group ( n = 60). PCT was compared between the groups, and association with other markers, including C ‐reactive protein ( CRP ) and white blood cell ( WBC ) count, was analyzed. Results Of the 60 neonates in the respiratory disorder group, 39, 10, five, one, two, two, and one neonates had transient tachypnea of the newborn, respiratory distress syndrome, air leak syndrome, meconium aspiration syndrome, 18‐trisomy, neonatal asphyxia, and congenital diaphragmatic hernia, respectively. Mean PCT , CRP and WBC count in the respiratory disorder group were 9.01 ng/mL, 0.26 mg/dL, and 16 100 cells/μL, respectively. The area under the curve obtained for PCT in distinguishing between the respiratory disorder and control groups was 0.85 (sensitivity, 66.7%; specificity, 93.0%; optimum cut‐off, 3.73 ng/mL), that for CRP was 0.72 (sensitivity, 75.0%; specificity, 64.6%; optimum cut‐off, 0.14 mg/dL), and for WBC it was 0.44 (sensitivity, 60.0%; specificity, 29.6%; optimum cut‐off, 15 000 cells/μL). Conclusions PCT is more susceptible, as a diagnostic parameter of infection, to the effect of respiratory disturbance than CRP and WBC .