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01-09-2008 | Original Article

Non-infectious causes of elevated procalcitonin and C-reactive protein serum levels in pediatric patients with hematologic and oncologic disorders

Authors: Hans Jürgen Dornbusch, Volker Strenger, Petra Sovinz, Herwig Lackner, Wolfgang Schwinger, Reinhold Kerbl, Christian Urban

Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer | Issue 9/2008

Abstract

Background

Procalcitonin (PCT) is considered a sensitive and specific diagnostic and prognostic marker of systemic bacterial infection, but its value is questionable in certain clinical conditions, particularly in hemato-oncological patients.

Materials and methods

We analyzed PCT and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in 56 patients of a pediatric hematology–oncology unit during 110 consecutive non-infectious febrile episodes related to administration of T-cell antibodies (group A; n = 22), alemtuzumab (monoclonal CD52 antibody, CAMPATH-1H/group B; n = 8), interleukin-2 (IL-2/group C; n = 41), prophylactic donor granulocyte transfusions (group D; n = 9), or to acute graft-versus-host disease (aGvHD/group E; n = 10) and compared the results with 20 episodes of Gram-negative sepsis (group F).

Main results

In the majority of the non-infectious episodes PCT and CRP increased to serum levels statistically indistinguishable from Gram-negative sepsis. Median peak levels of PCT (normal < 0.5 ng/ml)/CRP (normal < 8 mg/l) for groups A–F were 4.34/59.0 (A), 10.14/93.5 (B), 1.11/175.0 (C), 1.43/164 (D), 0.96/34.0 (E), and 8.14 ng/ml /126.0 mg/l (F). Highest single levels were observed in groups A and F.

Conclusions

PCT and CRP are of limited value as diagnostic markers of sepsis during T-cell-directed immunomodulatory treatment, granulocyte support, or acute GvHD.

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Title: Non-infectious causes of elevated procalcitonin and C-reactive protein serum levels in pediatric patients with hematologic and oncologic disorders
Authors: Hans Jürgen Dornbusch
Volker Strenger
Petra Sovinz
Herwig Lackner
Wolfgang Schwinger
Reinhold Kerbl
Christian Urban
Publication date: 01-09-2008
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer / Issue 9/2008
Print ISSN: 0941-4355
Electronic ISSN: 1433-7339
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-007-0381-1

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Abstract

Background

Materials and methods

Main results

Conclusions

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