Application of procalcitonin to the diagnosis of pneumonia in patients after kidney transplantation

Objective To evaluate the practical value of procaleitonin(PCT)in diagnosis of pneumonia in patients after kidney transplantation.Method A total of 102 patients with pneumonia after kidney transplantation were reviewed.According to the diagnostic criteria of pathogens of pneumonia,32 patients were enrolled in bacterial group and 70 patients in non-bacterial group.The data of the PCT level and the C-reactive protein (CRP) level of the two groups were determined and compared with each other.Results There was significant difference in PCT level between bacterial pneumonia patients after kidney transplantation and non-bacterial pneumonia patients group (P 0.05).The changes of PCT level and the CRP level in 32 patients with bacterial pneumonia after kidney transplantation were not significant (P>0.05),and they were not associated with each other.Conclusions Monitoring the PCT level in patients with bacterial pneumonia after kidney transplantation would have an obviously clinical significance in diagnostic value. Key words: Procalcitonin;  Kidney transplantation;  Bacterial pneumonia;  C-reactive protein