[Procalcitonin plasma levels do not alter after uncomplicated skull base surgery]

Procalcitonin (PCT) is the precursor of the calcitonin hormone. Plasma concentrations of procalcitonin increase in systemic inflammation, especially when they are caused by bacterial infections. The aim of this study is to analyze and validate the baseline PCT concentrations after different types of skull base surgery and to test the hypothesis that PCT could be useful as an early marker of post-operative infectious complications, especially meningitis.

This is a prospective study of sixteen patients who underwent skull base surgery. PCT and C-reactive protein plasma levels, leukocytes and clinical symptoms were registered pre-operatively and 1, 2, and 5 days post-operatively.

All patients had a normal post-operative course without clinical signs of infection. PCT concentrations did not increase above the normal range in any case.

As PCT plasma concentration does not notably increase despite the inflammatory phenomena associated with uncomplicated skull base surgery, it may be possible to use PCT as an early marker for non-invasive study of post-operative infectious complications.