Procalcitonin: in Lobar and Non-Lobar Pneumonia in Children

Introduction:  To investigate the value of procalcitonin (PCT) in lobar and non-lobar pneumonia in children. Materials and Methods: ۸۰ children with pneumonia were included. ۲۰ healthy children were selected as control. Lobar and non-lobar pneumonia were recognized. The serum level of C reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), leukocytes and PCT were measured. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS windows program. Results: Among the ۸۰ children ۳۹ cases (۴۸.۷۵%) were female and ۴۱ cases (۵۱.۲۵%) were male with the average of ۱۷.۲۹±۲.۴۳ months. ۷ patients (۸.۷۵%) were diagnosed with lobar pneumonia. Cough, tachypnea and Crackles were more common symptoms in lobar pneumonic patients. Leukocytosis (more than ۱۵۰۰۰/microliter) was more prominent in pneumonic patients versus control as well as lobar pneumonia versus non-lobar (p<۰.۰۵). The CRP with ۳+ level was prominent in lobar pneumonic patients (p=۰.۰۲). The mean of ESR in lobar group was higher than non-lobar group (p=۰.۰۰۱). The PCT level of ۲ng/mL could consider as cut off point of lobar and non-lobar pneumonia. The PCT level of ۰.۵ng/mL could consider as cut off point between pneumonic and healthy children. Conclusion: Serum level of PCT is higher in lobar pneumonia than non-lobar pneumonia in children with cut off point of ۲ng/mL.