Highlights
- •The inflammatory blood marker procalcitonin (PCT) aids in the diagnosis of bacterial infection and appropriate antibiotic use
- •The potential benefits of PCT testing in patients with acute cardiovascular disorders are being actively investigated
- •PCT provides information on the likelihood of an infectious cause in patients presenting with acute cardiovascular symptoms
- •PCT also provides prognostic information and correlates with clinical outcomes in different cardiovascular disorders
- •Prospective interventional trials may highlight the utility of PCT as a biomarker in managing acute cardiovascular disorders
Abstract
Due to its high accuracy for the diagnosis of bacterial infections, the inflammatory
biomarker procalcitonin (PCT) is increasingly being used in patients with suspected
infection. In patients with infections of the respiratory tract, it allows rapid rule
out of bacterial etiology and facilitates decisions pertaining to antibiotic management.
A growing body of evidence also supports PCT testing in patients with cardiovascular
disorders including, but not limited to, those with shortness of breath, possible
heart failure, suspected endocarditis, and acute coronary syndromes. In these clinical
situations, PCT may provide diagnostic information on the likelihood of an infectious
cause in cardiovascular patients presenting with acute symptoms such as dyspnea. It
may also have a prognostic value that correlates with clinical outcome and can potentially
guide drug therapy. This narrative review summarizes current concepts and evidence
from the published literature on the strengths and limitations of PCT as a biomarker,
with a focus on patients with a variety of cardiovascular disorders.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: August 11, 2016
Accepted:
August 10,
2016
Received in revised form:
August 9,
2016
Received:
April 22,
2016
Identification
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© 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
