[Procalcitonin--marker of infectious inflammation: clinical value and application]

The development of septic shock is accompanied by an essential increase of the level of Procalcitonin (PCT). The growth of the PCT level in blood is often associated with bacteremia. A-->2 ng/ml PCT increase in patients with agranulocytosis makes it possible to distinguish between the pneumonia as a local focus of infection and the pneumonia in sepsis. A high PCT level in bacterial and fungus infections makes it possible to distinguish them from viral and non-infection diseases.