Procalcitonin and C-reactive protein during the early posttraumatic systemic inflammatory response syndrome

To describe the initial evolution of serum procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in previously healthy adult trauma patients and to compare the relationship of the expression of these two proteins with indicators of trauma severity.

Prospective, descriptive, longitudinal study.

Surgical ICU in an university hospital.

Twenty-one patients admitted during the first posttraumatic 3 h exhibiting an Injury Severity Score (ISS) between 16 and 50 were enrolled.

Blood sampling was performed on admission and on posttraumatic days 0.5, 1, 2 and 3 to assess serum levels of PCT and CRP. Total creatine kinase (CKtot) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDHtot) activities in the serum were used as tissue damage indicators.

PCT exhibited an early and transient increase in serum levels similar to a more delayed change of CRP levels. Peak PCT and peak CRP were related to the ISS, the extent of tissue damage and the amount of fluid replacement during the first day. During the first 3 posttraumatic days, 90% of the patients exhibited a generalized inflammatory syndrome without infection.

An early and transient release of PCT into the circulation was observed after severe trauma and the amount of circulating PCT seemed proportional to the severity of tissue injury and hypovolemia, yet unrelated to infection. The predictive value of both PCT and CRP for a forthcoming multiple organ failure still remains to be clarified.