The status of serum procalcitonin in pulmonary tuberculosis and nontuberculosis pulmonary disease.

Abstract

Procalcitonin (PCT) is a marker of the inflammatory response to infection. In the present study the serum PCT of 46 pulmonary tuberculosis patients, 46 non-tuberculosis pulmonary disease and 46 healthy subjects were analyzed using semiquantitative PCT-Q kit. All healthy individuals (100%) were negative regarding PCT. Using cut-off value of 0.5 ng/ml, The sensitivity, specificity positive predictive value and negative predictive value for serum PCT in distinguishing tuberculous from nontuberculous pulmonary disease were 36.9%, 63.1%, 50% and 50%, respectively. According to our results the serum PCT is not a reliable marker for diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis due to low sensitivity and specificity.

• Authors: Mohammad Naderi, Mohammad Hashemi, Hamidreza Kouhpayeh, Reza Ahmadi
• Journal: JPMA. The Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association (J Pak Med Assoc) Vol. 59 Issue 9 Pg. 647-8 (Sep 2009) ISSN: 0030-9982 [Print] Pakistan
• PMID: 19750868 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• CALCA protein, human
• Protein Precursors
• Calcitonin
• Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Calcitonin (blood)
• Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide
• Case-Control Studies
• Female
• Humans
• Lung Diseases (blood)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Protein Precursors (blood)
• Sensitivity and Specificity
• Tuberculosis, Pulmonary (blood)
• Young Adult