Proteína C reactiva y procalcitonina como marcadores de infección bacteriana en niños con neutropenia febril posterior a trasplante alogénico de progenitores hematopoyéticos / C reactive protein and procalcitonin levels for the diagnosis of invasive bacterial infections in allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation recipients

ABSTRACT

Background: The main causes of complications of allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation are infections and graft versus host disease. Aim: To assess the predictive value of C reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) in the diagnosis of invasive bacterial infections in children with febrüe neutropenia after an allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Material and methods: Prospective follow up of patients aged 18 years or íess, with febrile neutropenia after an allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. In all patients, cultures from sterile sites, CRP and PCT determinations were done. CRP levels were also measured prior to transplantation and three times per week for 30 days after the procedure. An independent evaluator, blinded to the results of CRP and PCT, classified children as with or without invasive bacterial infection. Results: Thirty three patients aged 9±5 years (21 males) were studied. Eight had an invasive bacterial infection. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of a CRP ³90 mg/L for the diagnosis of invasive bacterial infection were 25, 80, 29 and 77 percent, respectively. The figures for a PCT ³0.7 ng/ml were 43, 78, 38 and 82 percent, respectively. No differences in repeated CRP values measured during evolution, were observed. Conclusions: A CRP ³90 mg/L or a PCT ³0.7 ng/ml had a high specificity and negative predictive value but low sensitivity for the diagnosis of invasive bacterial infections in recipients of allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.