Background: high Procalcitonin (pro-CT) plasma concentrations(> 9-10 μg/l), following cytokines release, seem to be an early marker of severe Bacterial Infections (BI). Lower concentrations are found in viral infections. We evaluated early pro-CT concentrations in course of severe pediatric BI. Subjects: 12 children (5′ days-16 years); diagnosis of sepsis, septic shock and bacterial meningitis (positive blood and/or CSF cultures). Interventions: pro-CT (ImmunoLuminescent Assay), CRP, interleukin-6 (IL6) and tumour necrosis factor α(TNFα) (ELISA) were measured on admission. Results: pro-CT concentrations were above 10 μg/l in all but 2 children (16,6%): a 1 month old girl (S. Virchow meningitis, pro-CT 0,36 μg/l, CRP 145 mg/l, IL6 14 pg/ml, TNFα <13 pg/ml) and a 6 month old boy (H. Influenzae meningitis, pro-CT 4,4 μg/l, CRP 103 mg/l, IL6 20 pg/ml, TNFα < 13 pg/ml). In both pro-CT concentrations remained low and CRP rapidly fell below 10 mg/l under antibiotic treatment. Conclusions: we speculate that pro-CT concentrations can fail to rise above 10 μg/l in a number of bacterial meningitis maybe due to low bacterial concentrations.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Di Maio, M., Monneret, G., Stamm, D. et al. Procalcitonin can Fail to Rise in Severe Bacterial Infections 69. Pediatr Res 40, 526 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199609000-00092
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199609000-00092