Serum procalcitonin at the time of admission to the ICU as a predictor of short-term mortality.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This purpose of this study was to determine if serum procalcitonin (PCT) concentration at the time of admission to the ICU is a predictor of all-cause short-term mortality. DESIGN AND METHODS: This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted over a 16-month period with 86 consecutive critically ill patients. The semi-quantitative PCT-Q test was performed and APACHE II scores and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations were determined within 24 h of admission. RESULTS: PCT-Q test value was a better predictor of all-cause short-term mortality than CRP value or APACHE II score. PCT > or = 10 ng/mL was highly and independently correlated with mortality. Use of PCT-Q > or = 10 ng/mL was superior to use of APACHE II > or = 25 or CRP > or = 10 mg/dL as a predictor of poor outcome. CONCLUSIONS: A PCT-Q value > or = 10 ng/mL obtained at the time of admission to the ICU is a strong predictor of short-term mortality.