Meng-Chih Lin1, Yung-Che Chen2, Jiun-Ting Wu2, Yang-Chin Ko2, Chin-Chou Wang2. 1. Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Kaohsiung Medical Center, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Electronic address: mengchih@adm.cgmh.org.tw. 2. Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Kaohsiung Medical Center, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The role of procalcitonin (PCT) in parapneumonic pleural effusion (PPPE) as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker of the outcome has not been examined before. METHODS: From the emergency department, 82 adult patients with pleural effusions were enrolled in this prospective study and divided into the following two groups: the PPPE group (n = 45); and the non-PPPE group (n = 37). Levels of pleural fluid (PF) PCT and serum (S) PCT were determined in all patients after study enrollment as well as on day 3 only in the PPPE group by a newly developed time-resolved, amplified, cryptate emission assay. RESULTS: Both PF-PCT and S-PCT levels were significantly higher in the PPPE group than the non-PPPE group (p = 0.01 and 0.0003, respectively). S-PCT had a better diagnostic performance than PF-PCT, with an area under the curve of the receiver operating characteristic of 0.834 for S-PCT and 0.752 for PF-PCT (p = 0.006). In the PPPE group, both PF-PCT and S-PCT levels on days 1 and 3 were significantly higher in patients who were in high-severity risk classes (all p values < 0.05). Day 3 PF-PCT/S-PCT ratios were significantly lower in patients who needed chest tube drainage for > 7.5 days (corrected p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: S-PCT has higher diagnostic accuracy than PF-PCT in differentiating PPPEs from non-PPPEs. However, both PF-PCT and S-PCT are useful in the severity assessment of patients with PPPEs. The PF-PCT/S-PCT ratio may help to predict prolonged chest tube drainage.
BACKGROUND: The role of procalcitonin (PCT) in parapneumonic pleural effusion (PPPE) as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker of the outcome has not been examined before. METHODS: From the emergency department, 82 adult patients with pleural effusions were enrolled in this prospective study and divided into the following two groups: the PPPE group (n = 45); and the non-PPPE group (n = 37). Levels of pleural fluid (PF) PCT and serum (S) PCT were determined in all patients after study enrollment as well as on day 3 only in the PPPE group by a newly developed time-resolved, amplified, cryptate emission assay. RESULTS: Both PF-PCT and S-PCT levels were significantly higher in the PPPE group than the non-PPPE group (p = 0.01 and 0.0003, respectively). S-PCT had a better diagnostic performance than PF-PCT, with an area under the curve of the receiver operating characteristic of 0.834 for S-PCT and 0.752 for PF-PCT (p = 0.006). In the PPPE group, both PF-PCT and S-PCT levels on days 1 and 3 were significantly higher in patients who were in high-severity risk classes (all p values < 0.05). Day 3 PF-PCT/S-PCT ratios were significantly lower in patients who needed chest tube drainage for > 7.5 days (corrected p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: S-PCT has higher diagnostic accuracy than PF-PCT in differentiating PPPEs from non-PPPEs. However, both PF-PCT and S-PCT are useful in the severity assessment of patients with PPPEs. The PF-PCT/S-PCT ratio may help to predict prolonged chest tube drainage.
Authors: Chang Dong Yeo; Jin Woo Kim; Mi Ran Cho; Ji Young Kang; Seung Joon Kim; Young Kyoon Kim; Sang Haak Lee; Chan Kwon Park; Sang Ho Kim; Mi Sun Park; Hyeon Woo Yim; Jong Y Park Journal: Tuberc Respir Dis (Seoul) Date: 2013-12-24
Authors: Fiona J McCann; Stephen J Chapman; Wai Cho Yu; Nick A Maskell; Robert J O Davies; Y C Gary Lee Journal: PLoS One Date: 2012-12-12 Impact factor: 3.240