Combination of biphasic transmittance waveform with blood procalcitonin levels for diagnosis of sepsis in acutely ill patients

• DOI: 10.1097/ccm.0b013e3181709f19
• Publication Date: 2008-04-30T07:13:53Z
• Authors: Ahmed N. Zakariah; Simona M. Cozzi; Marc Van Nuffelen; Carla Maria Clausi; Olivier Pradier; Jean-Louis Vincent
• Keywords: Procalcitonin

Objectives: To assess the diagnostic utility of combining measurement blood procalcitonin (PCT) concentrations with presence a biphasic transmittance waveform (BPW) from activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) to identify sepsis in critically ill patients. Design: Prospective observational study. Setting: Thirty-one-bed university hospital department medico-surgical intensive care. Patients: Two hundred consecutive adult patients admitted during 3-month period. Measurements and Main Results: aPTT analysis was performed on admission daily throughout care unit (ICU) stay. Receiver operating characteristic curves were created determine best threshold values BPW PCT for prediction sepsis. Of 200 patients, 63 (32%) had ICU stay; 29 (15%) diagnosed at admission. Using value slope_1 = −0.075%T/sec, 37 (19%) 84 (42%) some At this threshold, 23 (62%) 51 (61%) stay cut-off 1 ng/ml, 60 (30%) abnormal admission, 86 24 (40%) 52 (60%) Thirty an PCT, (77%) these other 170 only six (4%) Hence, sensitivity combination 79% specificity 96%; negative predictive 96%. Conclusion: is easy rapid method identification sepsis; its increases specificity.