Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2008 Apr 30:8:18.
doi: 10.1186/1471-2431-8-18.

Acute-phase reactants after paediatric cardiac arrest. Procalcitonin as marker of immediate outcome

Marta Los Arcos  1 , Corsino Rey, Andrés Concha, Alberto Medina, Belen Prieto
Affiliations

Acute-phase reactants after paediatric cardiac arrest. Procalcitonin as marker of immediate outcome

Marta Los Arcos et al. BMC Pediatr. .

Abstract

Objective: Procalcitonin (PCT) and C reactive protein (CRP) have been used as infection parameters. PCT increase correlates with the infection's severity, course, and mortality. Post-cardiocirculatory arrest syndrome may be related to an early systemic inflammatory response, and may possibly be associated with an endotoxin tolerance. Our objective was to report the time profile of PCT and CRP levels after paediatric cardiac arrest and to assess if they could be use as markers of immediate survival.

Materials and methods: A retrospective observational study set in an eight-bed PICU of a university hospital was performed during a period of two years. Eleven children younger than 14 years were admitted in the PICU after a cardiac arrest. PCT and CRP plasma concentrations were measured within the first 12 and 24 hours of admission.

Results: In survivors, PCT values increased 12 hours after cardiac arrest without further increase between 12 and 24 hours. In non survivors, PCT values increased 12 hours after cardiac arrest with further increase between 12 and 24 hours. Median PCT values (range) at 24 hours after cardiac arrest were 22.7 ng/mL (0.2 - 41.0) in survivors vs. 205.5 ng/mL (116.6 - 600.0) in non survivors (p < 0.05). CRP levels were elevated in all patients, survivors and non-survivors, at 12 and 24 hours without differences between both groups.

Conclusion: Measurement of PCT during the first 24 hours after paediatric cardiac arrest could serve as marker of mortality.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Box-plot of PCT plasma concentrations in the different groups. Data are presented in a logarithmic scale. Central line: median; boxes: 25th to 75th percentiles; whiskers: 95% confidence. P < 0.05 for PCT values at 24 hours between survivors and non survivors.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Box-plot of CRP plasma concentrations in the different groups. Data are presented in a logarithmic scale Central line: median; boxes: 25th to 75th percentiles; whiskers: 95% confidence.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Correlation between time of cardiac arrest (CRA) and time to initiation of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) with procalcitonin (PCT) values at 24 h.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Correlation between time of cardiac arrest (CRA) and time to initiation of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) with C reactive protein (CRP) values at 24 h.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

See all "Cited by" articles

References

    1. Carrol ED, Newland P, Thomson AP, Hart CA. Prognostic value of procalcitonin in children with meningococcal sepsis. Crit Care Med. 2005;33:224–225. doi: 10.1097/01.CCM.0000150742.57817.EE. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Clec'h C, Fosse JP, Karoubi P, Vincent F, Chouahi I, Hamza L, Cupa M, Cohen Y. Differential diagnostic value of procalcitonin in surgical and medical patients with septic shock. Crit Care Med. 2006;34:102–107. doi: 10.1097/01.CCM.0000195012.54682.F3. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Enguix A, Rey C, Concha A, Medina A, Coto D, Dieguez MA. Comparison of procalcitonin with C-reactive protein and serum amyloid for the early diagnosis of bacterial sepsis in critically ill neonates and children. Intensive Care Med. 2001;27:211–215. doi: 10.1007/s001340000709. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Leclerc F, Cremer R, Noizet O. Procalcitonin as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker of sepsis in critically ill children. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2003;4:264–266. doi: 10.1097/01.PCC.0000059335.06909.FA. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Rey C, Los AM, Concha A, Medina A, Prieto S, Martinez P, Prieto B. Procalcitonin and C-reactive protein as markers of systemic inflammatory response syndrome severity in critically ill children. Intensive Care Med. 2007;33:477–484. doi: 10.1007/s00134-006-0509-7. - DOI - PubMed