Role of serum and synovial procalcitonin in differentiating septic from non-septic arthritis- a prospective study

IntroductionSeptic arthritis is a serious orthopaedic emergency that must be diagnosed and managed early to prevent devastating complications. The current gold standard for diagnosing septic arthritis is synovial fluid culture, but results are delayed by 48–72 h, and the sensitivity of the test is very low. Differentiating Septic from non-septic arthritis is vital to prevent unnecessary use of antibiotics and prevent complications. Serum Procalcitonin (PCT) is a useful marker in differentiating septic from non-septic arthritis but there are very few studies that have studied the role of synovial PCT for the same.AimTo determine the role of serum and synovial PCT in differentiating acute Septic from non-septic arthritis.Materials and methodsProspective clinical study in which 60 patients presenting with acute inflammatory arthritis (<2 weeks duration) were enrolled from May 2018 to May 2020. Serum and synovial fluid samples were drawn at presentation and routine blood investigations, synovial fluid culture sensitivity, and Procalcitonin levels were measured. Patients were divided into 3 groups, with group-1 having confirmed pyogenic, group-2 having presumed pyogenic, and group-3 having non –pyogenic patients, respectively. All data was tabulated and statistically analysed using appropriate tests.ResultsMean serum PCT values in groups 1, 2 and 3 were 1.06 ± 1.11, 0.85 ± 0.74, and 0.11 ± 0.24, respectively. Patients in the Pyogenic group (group1 and group 2) had significantly higher mean serum PCT as compared to group3 (p < 0.0001). Group 1 had higher serum PCT as compared to group 2, but the difference was not significant (p = 0.58). Mean synovial PCT in group 1, 2 and 3 were 2.42 ± 1.98, 1.89 ± 1.18, and 0.22 ± 0.40, respectively. Patients in the Pyogenic group (Group1 and Group2) had significantly higher mean synovial PCT as compared to Group 3 (p < 0.0001). Group 1 had higher mean synovial PCT as compared to group 2, but the difference was not significant (p = 0.54). The area under the ROC curve of the serum levels of PCT was 0.0.895, and the area under the ROC curve of the synovial fluid levels of PCT was 0.914, which was higher than the serum PCT level.ConclusionSerum and synovial Procalcitonin may be used as a diagnostic marker in differentiating septic from inflammatory arthritis and can help in reducing unnecessary use of antibiotics and early diagnosis and management of septic arthritis, thereby preventing complications.     

脑脊液降钙素原及乳酸测定在早期诊断颅脑术后颅内感染的意义

目的研究降钙素原(PCT)及乳酸水平在早期诊断颅脑术后颅内感染的意义。方法颅脑术后颅内感染患者(n=20)和非颅内感染患者(n=20)的脑脊液和血液样本,检测脑脊液和血清PCT,脑脊液和血液乳酸水平等指标并进行统计分析。结果感染组脑脊液和血清PCT、乳酸水平较非感染组显著升高,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。脑脊液PCT和乳酸水平诊断敏感性及特异性均较血清PCT和乳酸水平高。结论脑脊液PCT、乳酸在颅脑手术术后颅内感染的诊断中均有意义,其中脑脊液PCT较乳酸敏感性更高,临床应用价值更大。     

白虎汤加减对老年脑卒中相关性肺炎血清降钙素原及淋巴细胞亚群改变的影响

目的研究白虎汤加减对老年脑卒中相关性肺炎患者血清降钙素原及淋巴细胞亚群改变的影响。方法选择60例老年脑卒中相关性肺炎患者,分组按照随机数字表法,将60例患者随机均分为两组。两组均给予脑卒中中后预防治疗,对照组给予哌拉西林钠他唑巴坦钠;观察组在此基础上给予白虎汤加减。观察记录两组治疗效果,并检测患者治疗前后PCT、CRP、WBC水平和淋巴细胞亚群的改变。结果在总有效率结果方面,观察组96.67%明显高于对照组80.00%,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。治疗后,两组患者PCT、CRP、WBC计数明显降低,观察组显著低于对照组(P<0.05)。两组患者治疗后,观察组CD3^+及CD4^+水平均明显高于对照组,CD4^+/CD8^+明显优于对照组(P<0.05)。结论白虎汤加减能有效改善老年脑卒中相关性肺炎患者血清降钙素原及淋巴细胞亚群水平,疗效确切,值得临床推广应用。     

沙参麦冬汤加减对阴虚肺热证肺炎支原体肺炎恢复期患者免疫炎症反应的影响

目的:观察沙参麦冬汤加减对肺炎支原体肺炎恢复期患者阴虚肺热证的疗效及对免疫炎症反应的调节作用。方法:将148例患者按随机数字表法分为对照组和观察组各74例。研究期间对照组脱落、失访2例,剔除3例完成70例;观察组脱落、失访4例,完成71例。两组患者均口服阿奇霉素片,10 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1),连服3 d;和匹多莫德颗粒剂,0.4～0.8 g/次,2次/d;和氨溴特罗口服溶液,2.5～15 mL/次,2次/d。对照组口服养阴清肺口服液,5～10 mL/次,2～3次/d;观察组内服沙参麦冬汤加减,1剂/d。两组疗程均为7 d。进行治疗前后咳嗽症状评分和咳嗽视觉模拟评分(VAS);记录咳嗽、肺部湿啰音,咯痰消失时间和胸片复常时间;进行治疗前后阴虚肺热证评分和莱塞斯特咳嗽问卷(LCQ)评分;检测治疗前后T淋巴细胞亚群(CD3+,CD4+,CD8+和CD4+/CD8+)和白细胞介素-6(IL-6),IL~(-1)0,肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α),P物质(SP),降钙素原基因相关肽(CGRP)水平;进行治疗后安全性评价。结果:观察组疾病疗效总有效为95.77%(68/71),优于对照组的82.86%(58/70)(χ2=6.186,P0.05);观察组患者咳嗽症状积分和VAS评分均明显低于对照组(P0.01);观察组患者LCQ量表各维度评分和LCQ总分均高于对照组(P0.01);观察组患者咳嗽、肺部湿啰音、咯痰消失时间及胸片复常时间均短于对照组(P0.01);观察组CD3+,CD4+,CD4+/CD8+均高于对照组(P0.01),CD8+低于对照组(P0.01);观察组血清IL-6,IL~(-1)0,TNF-α水平和痰液中SP和CGRP水均低于对照组(P0.01)。结论:在西医常规治疗的基础上,采用沙参麦冬汤加减内服治疗MPP恢复期阴虚肺热证患者,可减轻咳嗽程度,缩短病程,改善了生活质量,提高了细胞免疫功能,减轻了炎性损伤,降低了咳嗽敏感性,有较好的临床疗效,且使用安全。     

Relationship of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and procalcitonin levels with the presence and severity of the preeclampsia

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate changes in maternal serum neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and procalcitonin (PCT) concentrations in preeclampsia.

Material and method: This case–control study consisted of 40 preeclamptic and 40 healthy singleton pregnancies matched for age and body mass index. Serum NGAL and PCT levels were compared between the groups. Diagnostic performance and clinical association of these markers were evaluated.

Results: NGAL and PCT concentrations were significantly higher in preeclamptic group (p?p?=?0.001, respectively) and their levels were correlated with the severity of the preeclampsia. There were significant positive correlation between these markers and mean arterial pressure (MAP) and spot urine protein excretion. There was negative correlation between NGAL and apgar scores and fetal birth weight. Pregnancies with higher NGAL (OR: 4.89; 95% CI: 1.81–13.21) and higher PCT (OR: 6.67; 95% CI: 2.44–18.21) concentrations had higher risk for preeclampsia.

Conclusion: NGAL and PCT may be potential biomarkers for preeclampsia. Their levels increase significantly in preeclampsia and they are related to the severity of the disease. These results are in agreement with the generalized endothelial damage and persistant inflammatory status in preeclampsia. NGAL may also be an indicator for adverse neonatal outcomes with decreased placental hypoperfusion.     

降钙素原在恶性肿瘤患者感染诊治中的应用进展

探讨降钙素原在恶性肿瘤患者感染诊治中的应用进展，总结近年来文献对降钙素原在良、恶性疾病的临床应用状况，结果显示降钙素原对感染性疾病的诊断有重要意义，在恶性肿瘤患者的感染诊治中有较好的指示作用。     

血清降钙素原对成人颅内感染诊断价值的Meta分析

目的探讨血清降钙素原(PCT)对成人颅内感染的诊断价值。方法采用计算机检索英文数据库(PubMed、The Cochrane Library)、中文数据库(中国知网、万方期刊数据库及维普中文科技期刊数据库)从建库至2017年6月期间血清PCT对成人颅内感染诊断研究的文献。按照纳入与排除标准筛选文献,应用RevMan5.3统计软件提供的QUADAS-2风险评估工具对纳入文献进行质量评估,应用Meta-Disc 1.4软件进行Meta分析,应用Stata 13.0软件判断发表偏移并绘制Deeks图。结果最终纳入9篇文献,共1 446例患者。总灵敏度0.86(95%CI:0.82～0.89)、特异度0.91(95%CI:0.89～0.92)、阳性似然比6.50(95%CI:4.15～10.18)、阴性似然比0.15(95%CI:0.07～0.33)、诊断比值比44.66(95%CI:16.26～122.66)、SROC AUC0.9357和Q~*指数0.8720。异质性检验结果显示,各研究间存在异质性。亚组分析结果提示,当PCT阳性界值为0.1～0.5 ng/mL时SROC AUC(0.9692)和Q~*值(0.9185)最大。结论血清PCT对成人颅内感染有较高的诊断价值,可用于颅内感染的鉴别诊断。     

血清降钙素原定量与半定量检测在细菌感染诊断中的效能比较

目的:比较血清降钙素原(PCT)定量与半定量检测在细菌感染诊断中的效能。方法:选取182例疑似细菌感染患者作为研究对象,用胶体金免疫结合半定量法、化学发光定量法对所有患者进行血清PCT水平检测,比较两种检测方法诊断细菌感染的特异度、灵敏度。结果:细菌培养结果显示:182例疑似患者中,细菌感染153例,非细菌感染29例;细菌感染的患者中有局部细菌感染64例,全身炎性反应综合征(SIRS)51例,脓毒血症38例;经受试者工作特征曲线分析得知,将PCT≥0.5 ng/mL当作阳性诊断界点,化学发光定量法检测的特异度为65.41%,灵敏度为95.52%,明显高于胶体金免疫结合半定量法检测的46.32%、85.42%;SIRS和脓毒血症患者PCT水平明显高于局部细菌感染患者和非细菌感染患者,且脓毒血症患者PCT水平明显高于SIRS患者,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05);SIRS患者、脓毒血症患者PCT阳性率均高于局部细菌感染患者和非细菌感染患者,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05);局部细菌感染患者和非细菌感染患者的血清PCT水平、PCT阳性率比较,脓毒血症患者和SIRS患者的PCT阳性率比较,差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论:血清PCT定量检测对细菌感染的诊断效能高于半定量检测的诊断效能,且检测血清PCT水平对诊断全身细菌感染的价值更高,可指导临床治疗。