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Host Response Biomarkers in Sepsis: The Role of Procalcitonin

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Sepsis

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1237))

Abstract

Procalcitonin is the prohormone of calcitonin and present in minute quantities in health. However, during infection, its levels rise considerably and are correlated with the severity of the infection. Several assays have been developed for measurement of procalcitonin levels; in this article, we will briefly present the PCT-sensitive Kryptor® test (Brahms, Hennigsdorf, Germany), one of the most widely used assays for procalcitonin in recent studies. Many studies have demonstrated the value of procalcitonin levels for diagnosing sepsis and assessing disease severity. Procalcitonin levels have also been successfully used to guide antibiotic administration. However, procalcitonin is not specific for sepsis, and values need to be interpreted in the context of a full clinical examination and the presence of other signs and symptoms of sepsis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Intensive Care, Erasme Hospital, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Route de Lennik 808, B-1070, Brussels, Belgium

    Jean-Louis Vincent

  2. Department of Intensive Care, Erasme Hospital, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium

    Marc Van Nuffelen & Christophe Lelubre

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  1. Jean-Louis Vincent
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  2. Marc Van Nuffelen
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  3. Christophe Lelubre
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Correspondence to Jean-Louis Vincent .

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  1. University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy

    Nicasio Mancini

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Vincent, JL., Van Nuffelen, M., Lelubre, C. (2015). Host Response Biomarkers in Sepsis: The Role of Procalcitonin. In: Mancini, N. (eds) Sepsis. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1237. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1776-1_16

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1776-1_16

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