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Procalcitonin in pediatrics

Lucia Pacifico1, John F Osborn, Fabio Natale

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.

Advances in Clinical Chemistry
|March 7, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Procalcitonin (PCT) shows clinical usefulness in adults for severe infections. This review examines PCT

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Pediatric Medicine
  • Clinical Microbiology

Background:

  • Procalcitonin (PCT) has been extensively studied for clinical utility in adult severe infections over 20 years.
  • Debate exists regarding PCT's role in diagnosing and managing severe infections in adults.
  • Clinician familiarity with PCT use in pediatric populations is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the clinical significance of procalcitonin (PCT) in pediatric severe conditions.
  • To evaluate PCT as a biomarker for systemic inflammation, infection, and sepsis in children.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of procalcitonin (PCT) studies.
  • Analysis of PCT's role in pediatric systemic inflammation, infection, and sepsis.

Main Results:

  • Growing body of literature on PCT in adults, but less in pediatrics.
  • PCT is a potential marker for severe pediatric conditions.
  • PCT's utility in pediatric sepsis and inflammation requires further investigation.

Conclusions:

  • Procalcitonin (PCT) is a valuable marker for severe pediatric conditions.
  • Further research is needed to fully establish PCT's role in pediatric infection and sepsis management.

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