Procalcitonin in patients with influenza A (H1N1) infection and acute respiratory failure

摘要

ABSTRACTObjective:To verify serum procalcitonin levels of patients with acute respiratory failure secondary to influenza A (H1N1) upon their admission to the Intensive Care Unit and to compare these results to values found in patients with sepsis and trauma admitted to the same unit.Methods:Analysis of records of patients infected with influenza A (H1N1) and respiratory failure admitted to the General Intensive Care Unit during in a period of 60 days. The values of serum procalcitonin and clinical and laboratory data were compared to those of all patients admitted with sepsis or trauma in the previous year.Results:Among patients with influenza A (H1N1) (n = 16), the median serum procalcitonin level upon admission was 0.11 ng/mL, lower than in the sepsis group (p 0.001) and slightly lower than in trauma patients. Although the mean values were low, serum procalcitonin was a strong predictor of hospital mortality in patients with influenza A (H1N1).Conclusion:Patients with influenza A (H1N1) with severe acute respiratory failure presented with low serum procalcitonin values upon admission, although their serum levels are predictors of hospital mortality. The kinetics study of this biomarker may be a useful tool in the management of this group of patients.