Host response biomarkers in sepsis: the role of procalcitonin

Procalcitonin is the prohormone of calcitonin and present in minute quantities in health. However, during infection, its levels rise considerably and are correlated with the severity of the infection. Several assays have been developed for measurement of procalcitonin levels; in this article, we will briefly present the PCT-sensitive Kryptor(®) test (Brahms, Hennigsdorf, Germany), one of the most widely used assays for procalcitonin in recent studies. Many studies have demonstrated the value of procalcitonin levels for diagnosing sepsis and assessing disease severity. Procalcitonin levels have also been successfully used to guide antibiotic administration. However, procalcitonin is not specific for sepsis, and values need to be interpreted in the context of a full clinical examination and the presence of other signs and symptoms of sepsis.