RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Clinical implications of serum procalcitonin in acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease JF European Respiratory Journal JO Eur Respir J FD European Respiratory Society SP p3357 VO 38 IS Suppl 55 A1 Gamal Agmy A1 Yasser Ahmed A1 Shahban Helal YR 2011 UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p3357.abstract AB Background: A reliable test for differentiation between bacterial and nonbacterial AECOPD would be extremely helpful in management of AECOPD.Objective: To explore the diagnostic and prognostic role of serum procalcitonin (PCT) in AECOPD.Methods: A total of 100 patients with AECOPD and 20 of healthy individuals were studied. On presentation, serum PCT concentration was measured, and quantitative sputum culture was performed for AECOPD. The patients were reevaluated when they had reached their stable clinical state.Pathogenic bacterial microorganism (PBM) was regarded as significant if they were ≥ 105 CFU/ml. The patients were classified into two subgroups: group A; patients with bacterial AECOPD (n = 40), and group B; patients with nonbacterial AECOPD (n = 60).Results: On presentation, The levels of PCT for patients of group A [1.59±0.52 μg/L] were significantly > group B [0.11±0.02 μg/L] and control group [0.75±0.03 μg/L]. When they had reached their stable state, the levels of PCT for patients of group A decreased to [0.12±0.04 μg/L], which was significantly < that in exacerbation [[1.59±0.52 μg/L]; but in patients of group B the levels of PCT did not change [0.1±0.01 μg/L]. In the stable state, there were no differences in the PCT measurement between the two subgroups as well as between patients and control. Furthermore; a significant correlation was recorded between PCT levels in group A at time of presentation and temperature (r=0.988, p<0.05), leucocytic count (r=0.897,p<0.05), and FEV1% of predicted (r=0.889, p<0.05).Conclusion: In patients presented with AECOPD, PCT is an excellent diagnostic and prognostic marker of bacterial infection.