scholarly journals Utility of procalcitonin, C-reactive protein and white blood cells alone and in combination for the prediction of clinical outcomes in community-acquired pneumonia

Author(s):  
Andriy Zhydkov ◽  
Mirjam Christ-Crain ◽  
Robert Thomann ◽  
Claus Hoess ◽  
Christoph Henzen ◽  
...  

AbstractThe added value of biomarkers, such as procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP), and white blood cells (WBC), as adjuncts to clinical risk scores for predicting the outcome of patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is in question. We investigated the prognostic accuracy of initial and follow-up levels of inflammatory biomarkers in predicting death and adverse clinical outcomes in a large and well-defined cohort of CAP patients.We measured PCT, CRP and WBC on days 1, 3, 5, and 7 and followed the patients over 30 days. We applied multivariate regression models and area under the curve (AUC) to investigate associations between these biomarkers, the clinical risk score CURB-65, and clinical outcomes [i.e., death and intensive care unit (ICU) admission].Of 925 patients with CAP, 50 patients died and 118 patients had an adverse clinical outcome. None of the initial biomarker levels significantly improved the CURB-65 score for mortality prediction. Follow-up biomarker levels showed significant independent association with mortality at days 3, 5, and 7 and with improvements in AUC. Initial PCT and CRP levels were independent prognostic predictors of adverse clinical outcome, and levels of all biomarkers during the course of disease provided additional prognostic information.This study provides robust insights into the added prognostic value of inflammatory markers in CAP. Procalcitonin, CRP, and to a lesser degree WBC provided some prognostic information on CAP outcomes, particularly when considering their kinetics at days 5 and 7 and when looking at adverse clinical outcomes instead of mortality alone.

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
pp. 0-0
Author(s):  
Mohamed Rashad ◽  
Yasser Ismail ◽  
Ahmad Ata Sobeih ◽  
Omar Abdel Aziz

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Athina Nikolarakou ◽  
Dana Dumitriu ◽  
Pierre-Louis Docquier

Primary arthritis of chondrosternal joint is very rare and occurs in infants less than 18 months of age. Presentation is most often subacute but may be acute. Child presents with a parasternal mass with history of fever and/or local signs of infection. Clinical symptoms vary from a painless noninflammatory to a painful mass with local tenderness and swelling, while fever may be absent. Laboratory data show low or marginally raised levels of white blood cells and C-reactive protein, reflecting, respectively, the subacute or acute character of the infection. It is a self-limiting affection due to the adequate immune response of the patient. Evolution is generally good without antibiotherapy with a progressive spontaneous healing. A wait-and-see approach with close follow-up in the first weeks is the best therapeutic option.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Nishimura ◽  
Parag Dharap ◽  
Sebastien Raimbault

Abstract Background Hematology analyzers display abnormal parameters during malaria infection providing insightful information for suspecting and assessing malaria infection. The goal of this study is to demonstrate the potential of a three-part differential hematology analyzer to assess malaria, provide information about the parasitemia, and discuss the importance of combining C-reactive protein (CRP) with hematology parameters to obtain further information about the malaria infection. Methods The present study shows the results of a case–control study during the monsoon season of years 2018 and 2019 in Mumbai, India. The study considers 1008 non-malaria febrile cases, 209 P. vivax and 31 P. falciparum positive malaria samples, five cases of mixed P. vivax and P. falciparum infection, and three co-infection cases of P. vivax and dengue. Raw data from the three-part analyzer LC-667G CRP (HORIBA) and the corresponding microscopic findings (golden standard for diagnosis of malaria) were obtained for each sample. Results The medians of platelet counts (PLT) were 102.5, 109.0, and 223.0 × 103/µL, while CRP medians were 67.4, 81.4 and 10.4 mg/L in P. vivax, P. falciparum and control groups respectively (p < 0.001 in Mann–Whitney U tests between malaria and control groups). Compared with negative samples, platelets counting less than 161.5 × 103/µL were observed on malaria patients (OR 19.12, 95% CI 11.89–30.75). Especially in P. vivax cases, an abnormal peak was frequently observed in the white blood cells (WBC) histogram around the 37fL channel. The events counted around that channel showed a linear correlation with the counting of red blood cells infected predominantly with larger parasitic forms. Parameters like CRP (rs = 0.325, p < 0.001), WBC (rs = 0.285, p < 0.001) and PLT (rs = − 0.303, p < 0.001) were correlated with the parasitemia of P. vivax samples. Between the malaria and dengue groups, the highest area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was observed on CRP (0.867, CRP ≥ 26.85 mg/L). Conclusions A three-part differential hematology analyzer has the potential to not only trigger malaria diagnosis confirmation but also assess the severity of the infection when CRP is considered.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Marta-Enguita ◽  
Manuel Navarro-Oviedo ◽  
Idoia Rubio-Baines ◽  
Nuria Aymerich ◽  
Maria Herrera ◽  
...  

Abstract Background- Inflammatory response plays an important role in many processes related to acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Calprotectin (S100A8/S100A9), released by monocytes and neutrophils, is a key protein in the regulation of inflammation and thrombosis. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the association of circulating calprotectin with other inflammatory biomarkers and AIS prognosis, as well as the calprotectin content in stroke thrombi.Methods- Among the 748 patients treated at a comprehensive stroke centre between 2015-2017, 413 patients with confirmed acute ischemic injury were evaluated. Patients with systemic inflammation or infection at onset were excluded. Plasma calprotectin was measured by ELISA in blood samples of AIS patients within the first 24h. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were performed to evaluate its association with mortality and functional independence (FI) at 3-months (defined as modified Rankin Scale<2), and intracranial haemorrhage (ICH) after stroke. Further, S100A9 was localized by immunostaining in stroke thrombi (n=44). Results- Higher calprotectin levels were associated with 3-month mortality and ICH, while lower calprotectin levels were documented in patients with 3-month FI. After adjusting for potential confounders, plasma calprotectin levels remained associated with 3-month mortality [OR (95%CI); 3.06, (1.67-5.61)]. Patients with calprotectin≥2.26 µg/mL were 4-times more likely to die [OR 3.98, (1.88-8.41)]. Likewise, Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) and C-Reactive Protein (CRP) were also associated with 3-month mortality [OR 1.98, (1.17-3.35); and 1.39, (1.02-1.89) respectively]. A multimarker approach demonstrated that patients with increased calprotectin, CRP and NLR had the poorest outcome with a mortality rate of 42.3% during follow-up. S100A9 protein, as part of the heterodimer calprotectin, was present in all thrombi retrieved from AIS patients. Mean S100A9 content was 3.5% and tended to be higher in patients who died (p=0.09). Moreover, it positively correlated with platelets (Pearson r 0.46, p<0.002); leukocytes (0.45, p<0.01) and neutrophil elastase (0.70, p<0.001) thrombi content. Conclusions- Plasma calprotectin is an independent predictor of 3-month mortality and provides complementary prognostic information to identify patients with poor outcome after AIS. Presence of S100A9 in stroke thrombi suggests a possible inflammatory mechanism in clot formation and further studies are needed to determine its influence in resistance to reperfusion.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bo Zhang ◽  
Yuanhang Yu ◽  
Shawna Herbet ◽  
Yue Zhang ◽  
Jianhua Lu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: At present, the epidemic of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has quickly engulfed the world. Inflammatory cytokines are associated with the severity and outcomes of patients with COVID-19. However, the effects of pro-inflammatory factors in cancer patients with COVID-19 are unknown. Methods: A multi-center, retrospective, cross-sectional study, based on 5 designated tertiary hospitals for the treatment of COVID-19 in Hubei Province, China. 112 cancer patients with COVID-19, and 105 COVID-19 patients without cancer were enrolled in the study between January 1 st , 2020 and April 30 th , 2020. The risk assessment of pro-inflammatory factors for disease severity and clinical adverse outcomes was identified by univariable and multivariable logistic regression models. Results: Of the 112 cancer patients with COVID-19, 40 (35.7%) patients were in critical condition and 18 (16.1%) patients died unfortunately. Univariate and multivariate analysis demonstrated that hemoglobin count and pro-inflammatory neutrophil and C-reactive protein, can be used as independent factors affecting the severity of COVID-19; Meanwhile, pro-inflammatory neutrophils and C-reactive protein can be used as an independent influencing factor for adverse clinical outcome. Moreover, the dynamic changes of neutrophils and C-reactive protein were also presented, and compared with COVID-19 patients without cancer, cancer patients with COVID-19 showed higher neutrophil counts and C-reactive protein levels. Conclusions: In cancer patients with COVID-19, the significant increase in pro-inflammatory neutrophil and C-reactive protein indicated a more critical illness and adverse clinical outcome, and pro-inflammatory neutrophils and C-reactive protein played a more adverse effect compare with COVID-19 patients without cancer, which may be the cause of critical illness and adverse clinical outcomes of cancer patients with COVID-19.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document