Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 16, 2026
Evaluation of a Reliable Biomarker in a Cecal Ligation and Puncture-Induced Mouse Model of Sepsis
Published on: December 9, 2022
[Procalcitonin as a predictor of trauma severity and post-traumatic sepsis in children]
Insights
Procalcitonin (PCT) levels rise after pediatric trauma and predict sepsis. Day 2 PCT levels are key indicators for post-traumatic sepsis and systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS).
Area of Science:
- Pediatric critical care medicine
- Biomarker research
- Trauma management
Background:
- Pediatric trauma can lead to severe complications like sepsis.
- Early identification of at-risk children is crucial for timely intervention.
- Existing inflammatory markers may have limitations in predicting outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between procalcitonin (PCT) levels and trauma severity in children.
- To evaluate PCT's role in predicting post-traumatic sepsis and systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS).
Main Methods:
- Blood samples from 30 pediatric trauma patients were analyzed over four days.
- Measured levels of procalcitonin (PCT), IL-6, C-reactive protein (CRP), and white blood cell (WBC) count.
- Assessed pediatric trauma score (PTS), hospital length of stay, sepsis incidence, and clinical outcomes.
Main Results:
- Plasma PCT levels significantly increased in pediatric trauma patients.
- Sepsis occurred in 23.33% of patients, with higher PCT levels compared to controls (P < 0.05).
- Day 2 PCT levels independently predicted post-trauma sepsis and SIRS, correlating positively with trauma severity.
Conclusions:
- Plasma PCT levels are markedly elevated in children following trauma.
- Day 2 procalcitonin is a significant independent predictor for developing post-traumatic sepsis and SIRS.
- A strong correlation exists between injury severity and plasma PCT levels in pediatric trauma.
Objective:
To determine the association of procalcitonin (PCT) with trauma severity and post traumatic sepsis in children.
Methods:
The blood samples of 30 children with acute trauma in a Pediatric unit were collected for four consecutive days. The levels of PCT, IL-6, CRP and WBC were measured. The pediatric trauma score (PTS), length of stay in hospital, incidence of sepsis and clinical outcomes of the children were recorded. The value of PCT for predicting prognosis of children with trauma was compared with other inflammatory markers.
Results:
Plasma PCT levels increased significantly in the patients in our study. Sepsis occurred in 23.33% of the patients. The patients with sepsis had higher levels of PCT than those with and without systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and the healthy controls (P < 0.05). The peak level of PCT emerged on day 2 after trauma. The plasma PCT levels were positively correlated with trauma severity. The level of PCT on day 2 was an independent predictor for post-trauma sepsis and SIRS.
Conclusion:
Plasma PCT levels increase markedly in post trauma children. Plasma PCT of day 2 after trauma is an independent predictor of post-traumatic sepsis and SIRS complications. There is a significant correlation between the severity of injury and plasma PCT.
