The clearance of procalcitonin (PCT) during continuous veno-venous hemodiafiltration (CVVHD)

To evaluate the Procalcitonin (PCT) clearance during continuous veno-venous hemodiafiltration (CVVHD).

Case report

++ Surgical intensive care unit.

51-year-old man, who had undergone total thyroidectomy about ten years before owing to multiple endocrine neoplasia 2 (MEN 2), suffering from multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) with acute renal failure after severe trauma caused by a traffic accident.

The samplings of prefilter (afferent) and post-filter (efferent) blood and of ultradiafiltrate were 6 times performed during 24 h of CVVHD to calculate the PCT clearance of hemdiafiltration. During the first half period of CVVHD the serum PCT concentration did not decrease, though PCT had been eliminated from serum. On the other hand during the latter half period of it the serum PCT value decreased (from 46.8 ng/ml to 29.4 ng/ml) and the amount of the eliminated PCT from serum was about 100 ng per minute and its clearance was 2.3 approximately 3.4 ml/min.

The CVVHD could eliminate PCT from serum. First it was brought about by the adsorption by the filter membrane and then by ultradiafiltration.