Serial procalcitonin levels for predicting prognosis in community-acquired pneumonia

摘要

Background and objectiveThis study aimed to investigate the usefulness of addition of serial measurements of procalcitonin (PCT) to C-reactive protein (CRP) values and pneumonia severity scores, such as CURB-65 (confusion, urea>7mmol/L, respiratory rate30 breaths/min, low blood pressure (systolic<90mm Hg or diastolic60mm Hg) and age65years) and the Pneumonia Severity Index, and attempted to create and evaluate a new scoring system for predicting mortality risk using the biomarkers and pneumonia severity scores.