Procalcitonin and CRP as Biomarkers in Discrimination of Community-Acquired Pneumonia and Exacerbation of COPD

BACKGROUND: Serum procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) are markers of systemic inflammation and bacterial infection. We aimed to compare the usefulness of procalcitonin and CRP in patients with community-acquired pneumonia and exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). METHODS: A total of 116 consecutive patients were included in the study: 76 with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in group 1, and 40 with pneumonia in group 2. REZULTATI: Srednji nivo CRP-a u serumu bio je 44 mg/L u grupi sa HOBP i 132 mg/L u grupi sa pneumonijom. Srednja vrednost PCT-a u serumu bila je 0,07 u grupi HOBP i 0,14 ng/mL u grupi sa pneumonijom. Nivo PCT-a i CRP-a u serumu bio je znacajno visi u grupi sa pneumonijom u poređenju s grupom sa HOBP (p<0,001). Oblast ispod ROC krive bila je 0,788 (CI: 0,704–0,872) za CRP i 0,699 (CI: 0,599–0,800) za prokalcitonin za identifikovanje pneumonije. CONCLUSIONS: Procalcitonin and CRP levels were significantly higher in patients with community-acquired pneumonia presenting to the emergency department with indications for hospitalization than in patients with exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Serum CRP and procalcitonin concentrations were strongly correlated. CRP might be a more valuable marker in these patients with lower respiratory tract infections.