Tuyển tập các báo cáo nghiên cứu về y học được đăng trên tạp chí y học Critical Care giúp cho các bạn có thêm kiến thức về ngành y học đề tài: Procalcitonin: seeking a niche. | Available online http content 13 3 149 Commentary Procalcitonin seeking a niche Anthony McLean Department Intensive Care Medicine Sydney Medical School - Nepean Penrith Sydney NSW 2750 Australia Corresponding author Anthony McLean mcleana@ See related research by Brodska et al. http content 13 2 R37 Published 21 May 2009 Critical Care 2009 13 149 doi cc7799 This article is online at http content 13 3 149 2009 BioMed Central Ltd Abstract For over a decade there has been intense interest given to the role of procalcitonin in the diagnosis and management of sepsis in critically ill patients. Early opinions strongly supported the diagnostic role but data accumulating from numerous subsequent studies are less supportive even when used in very selective settings. Although there remains sufficient reason to support the use of procalcitonin in guiding antibiotic therapy or perhaps providing prognostic information it may be time to focus our efforts on the early diagnosis of sepsis in the critically care setting on alternative more promising methods. Proealeitonin PCT has a fascination for many critical care physicians. There exists the desire for reliable biomarkers of sepsis however physicians are divided in opinion as to the usefulness of this particular candidate. The study by Brodska and colleagues published in the previous issue of Critical Care is small yet illuminating searching to advance the debate by evaluation of the behaviour and diagnostic role of PCT in patients undergoing allogenic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation and who receive antithymocyte globulin as part of the conditioning regimen 1 . Lacking indices such as a white cell count to assist in determining whether sepsis has occurred the authors undertook a prospective trial to ascertain the diagnostic values of PCT and C-reactive protein in this very specialised situation. Marked and rapid elevations of both C-reactive protein and PCT .
