Hi Chris,
proCalcitonin (proCT) is a marker that has been investigated, especially in
newborn infants, as an early marker of bacterial sepsis. The early interest
came form work which found that mice injected with endotoxin expressed
increased levels of proCT within hours of injection suggesting it may have a
role in early diagnosis c/f CRP which takes a lot longer to increase and
thus allowing early antibiotic therapy. The problem with proCT which has
been found in a number of studies is that, at least in the neonate, there is
a physiological peak at day 1 and a number of other conditions, especially
RDS, also have increased levels. As Valdo Michelangeli mentioned we are
involved in a study investigating IL-8 as a potential marker for early
antibiotic prophylaxis. This follows on from a study I was involved in where
we measured CRP, IL-6, IL-8 and haematological indices (Neutrophil count,
I/T ratio) in newborns who were then classified as septic or non septic. We
found that the combination of IL-8 with Neutrophil count was the best early
marker ( in terms of sensitivity and specificity). We did not look at proCT
although commercial assays are available (try BM). The interesting thing
about IL-8 was that I also found an increase in IL-8 in ventilated infants
c/f non-ventilated. As with the increased proCT found in RDS mentioned
above, this suggests a role for oxidative stress and induction of the redox
sensitive (and endotoxin sensitive) transcription factors NF-kB and AP-1 in
the induction of both proCT and IL-8 suggesting that they are both markers
of the same response.
Hope this long winded reply has answered your question!
Peter Vervaart BAppSci MAIMS FAACB
Senior Scientist, Gastroenterology and Nutrition
Department of Clinical Biochemistry
Women's and Children's Health Care Network
Flemington Road
Parkville, Victoria, 3052
Australia
Phone: 613-9345 5906
Fax: 613-9349 1819
WWW: http://www.rch.unimelb.edu.au\biochem\gastro
----- Original Message -----
From: Chris Lovell-Smith <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, October 27, 1999 2:00 PM
Subject: procalcitonin assay
> Hi, does anyone have information on the assay methods and/or usefulness of
> serum procalcitonin estimation as a marker of bacterial infections in sick
> children, please?
> Replies to me [[log in to unmask]] or the mailbase, at your
> discretion, thanks.
>
> Chris
>
> Dr Chris Lovell-Smith
> Chemical Pathologist and Clinical Leader
> Healthlab Otago, Dunedin, NZ
>
>
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