New reference ranges of procalcitonin excluding respiratory failure in neonates.

Tetsuo NaramuraKenichi TanakaTakeshi InoueHiroko ImamuraHidetaka YoshimatsuHiroshi MitsubuchiKimitoshi Nakamura Masanori Iwai

Published in: Pediatrics international : official journal of the Japan Pediatric Society (2020)

Respiratory failure is the main effector for the transient elevation in serum PCT levels at 3 days of life. After excluding the influence of respiratory failure, the chronological pattern and range were very similar between term and preterm neonates. Procalcitonin can be useful for clinicians in distinguishing bacterial infection from respiratory failure, aiding decisions on appropriate antibiotic use.

Keyphrases

respiratory failure
extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
mechanical ventilation
low birth weight
preterm infants
acute respiratory distress syndrome
gestational age
palliative care
intensive care unit
dendritic cells
preterm birth
immune response