Can Procalcitonin Distinguish Pneumonia from Heart Failure in the ED?

Pooled data from two studies point to the potential value of a 0.10-ng/mL cutoff value of procalcitonin, but clearer outcomes data are needed.

Pneumonia and heart failure (HF), each among the most common diagnoses for patients hospitalized via the emergency department (ED), have dyspnea as a presenting feature. Natriuretic peptide concentrations are widely used to aid in diagnosing HF. To better explore the value of measuring procalcitonin to diagnose pneumonia in patients with acute dyspnea, researchers pooled data from 453 patients enrolled in two previous ED-based investigations: PRIDE and BIONICS-HF. A maker of procalcitonin assays funded the analysis.

The final diagnosis was acutely decompensated HF in 212 patients (47%), pneumonia in 30 (6.5%), and both HF and pneumonia in another 30 (6.5%). The median procalcitonin level was significantly higher in patients with pneumonia th…

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)

Can Procalcitonin Distinguish Pneumonia from Heart Failure in the ED?

Topics

Reviewing Author