Author/Authors :
Taghizadieh، Ali نويسنده Emergency Department, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran , , Soleimanpour، Hassan نويسنده Cardiovascular Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, IR Iran , , Rahmani، Farzad نويسنده Department of Emergency medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran , , Shahsavari nia، Kavous نويسنده Road Traffic Injury Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran , , Khodaverdizadeh، Hossein نويسنده Students Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical
Sciences, Tabriz, IR Iran ,
Abstract :
Pneumonia is an important and commonly occurring disease, with
significant morbidity and mortality. Community acquired pneumonia (CAP)
is associated with a very rapid rise in procalcitonin (PCT), which has
been considered a primary marker of bacterial infection. The aim of this
study was to compare the serum levels of PCT in patients with CAP and in
patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (COPD). This cross-sectional prospective descriptive study was
performed in the emergency department (ED) on patients with CAP and
acute exacerbation of COPD. A total of 53 patients were included in this
study and their serum levels of PCT and C-reactive protein (CRP) were
measured. The patients included 31 males and 22 females with a mean age
of 76.52 ± 9.93 years and a mean BMI of 25.98 ± 3.04. The mean PCT level
was 0.93 ± 1.56 in patients with CAP and 0.29 ± 0.27 in patients with
acute exacerbation of COPD; the PCT level was significantly higher in
the patients with CAP (P = 0.049). The mean CRP level was 34.00 ± 12.37
in patients with CAP and 31.66 ± 11.73 in patients with acute
exacerbation of COPD; this difference was not statistically significant
(P = 0.483). We found statistical differences in PCT levels that would
differentiate CAP from acute exacerbation of COPD in the ED setting.
Further studies are required to verify this finding.
