Correlation of serum C-reactive protein and procalcitonin levels in infections of kidney transplant recipients

Year 2017, , 135 - 139, 04.07.2017

Nurettin Ay , Melih Anil Vahhac Alp Safak Kaya , Neslihan Cicek Ozgur Arslan

https://doi.org/10.18621/eurj.291746

Abstract

Objectives. Procalcitonin is a propeptide of
calcitonin and has been increasingly used as a biomarker of infection. The aim
of this study was to evaluate correlation of serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and
procalcitonin (PCT) levels of kidney transplant patients hospitalized due to
infection. Methods. There were 121 patients who had kidney transplant in
our center between September 2012 and February 2017 and patients with a
diagnosis of infection or rejection were included in the study. Simultaneous
106 serum CRP and PCT levels at the beginning or during any time of treatment
for post-transplant infection, cytomegalovirus (CMV) positivity, BK viremia and
rejection were evaluated. Results. Median and
interquartile ranges of CRP and PCT serum levels were 40 mg/l [24.7-64.9] and 0.19
ng/ml [0.1-0.61], respectively. A significant positive correlation between
serum CRP and PCT levels of the patients were observed (r=0.490, p<0.001). When serum CRP levels were
grouped as <50 mg/l, 50-100 mg/l and >100 mg/l, correlations with serum
PCT levels were as r=0.461 (p<0.001),
r=-0.52 (p=0.860) and r=0.488 (p=0.153), respectively. Serum levels of PCT did not increase in CMV and BK virus
infections and rejection. Conclusions. Serum CRP and PCT levels
were correlated as a whole in the study, whereas serum CRP levels of 50-100 mg/l
and >100 mg/l did not show a statistically significant correlation.
Stability of PCT levels in viral infections and rejections might be an
advantage for the follow-up of solid organ transplants. We need prospective
trials of PCT measurements for the evaluation of post-transplant infections. 

Keywords

C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, correlation, kidney transplantation

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