Procalcitonin Level to Diagnose Infective Endocarditis?

Although procalcitonin levels were significantly elevated in patients with IE, this measure was not adequately specific or sensitive.

Blood culture and echocardiography are the usual tools for identifying infective endocarditis (IE) but may delay diagnosis and treatment. To examine whether serum procalcitonin level might be a useful marker for this condition, researchers at a medical center in Denmark conducted a prospective study among consecutive adults who underwent echocardiography for suspected IE. The study was performed between March 2007 and May 2009; blood for procalcitonin measurement was obtained at the time of echocardiography.

Among 759 eligible patients, 147 (19%) were determined to have IE. The median procalcitonin level was 0.21 ng/mL in patients with IE versus 0.13 ng/mL in those without IE (P<0.001). On multivariate analysis, factors significantly associa…

Reviewing Author

Neil M. Ampel, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesCoccidioidomycosis Study Group (Past President, Secretary, Treasurer)

Neil M. Ampel, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesCoccidioidomycosis Study Group (Past President, Secretary, Treasurer)