TY - JOUR

T1 - Utility of blood procalcitonin concentration in the management of cancer patients with infections

AU - Durnas, Bonita

AU - Watek, Marzena

AU - Wollny, Tomasz

AU - Niemirowicz, Katarzyna

AU - Marzec, Michal

AU - Bucki, Robert

AU - Gozdz, Stanislaw

PY - 2016

Y1 - 2016

N2 - Diagnosis of infections in cancer patients is usually problematic since differentiating between infection and fever of unknown origin is often a considerable clinical challenge. In general, increase concentration of blood procalcitonin (PCT) is associated with severe bacterial infection. PCT with an optimal cutoff level of 0.5 ng/mL seems to be the most helpful biochemical parameter in detecting severe infections, mainly bloodstream infection, in patients with hematological cancers. In all clinical situations, the elevated level of PCT should be carefully analyzed, always with a thorough physical examination and an appropriate microbiological assessment.

AB - Diagnosis of infections in cancer patients is usually problematic since differentiating between infection and fever of unknown origin is often a considerable clinical challenge. In general, increase concentration of blood procalcitonin (PCT) is associated with severe bacterial infection. PCT with an optimal cutoff level of 0.5 ng/mL seems to be the most helpful biochemical parameter in detecting severe infections, mainly bloodstream infection, in patients with hematological cancers. In all clinical situations, the elevated level of PCT should be carefully analyzed, always with a thorough physical examination and an appropriate microbiological assessment.

KW - procalcitonin

KW - cancer

KW - infection

U2 - 10.2147/OTT.S95600

DO - 10.2147/OTT.S95600

M3 - Review

C2 - 26858528

VL - 9

SP - 469

EP - 475

JO - OncoTargets and Therapy

JF - OncoTargets and Therapy

SN - 1178-6930

ER -