The Relationship between Serum Procalcitonin and Dialysis Adequacy in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients

Background To detect the serum procalcitonin (PCT) levels of peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. Methods We analyzed the relationship between the PCT Level and dialysis adequacy. We studied 120 peritoneal dialysis patients without signs of infection in Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital and 120 controls from Jan 2014 to Apr 2016. PCT and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were detected. 120 PD patients were divided into two groups according to the dialysis adequacy. A correlation analysis was processed between the PCT level and the total solute clearance (Kt/V). The value of PCT for identifying the dialysis adequacy in PD patients was assessed by ROC curve analysis. Results PCT level in serum of PD group (0.29±0.24 ng/ml) was higher than that of the control group (0.02±0.01 ng/ml) (P<0.01). Compared with the inadequate dialysis group (0.5±0.37 ng/ml), the PCT Level of the adequate dialysis group (0.23±0.15 ng/ml) was lower (P<0.01). There were negative correlations between PCT and Kt/v(r=-0.451), Prealbumin (PA) (r=-0.258), Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR; r=-0.280), while there was positive correlation between PCT and Hypersensitive c-reactive protein (r=0.458) (P<0.01). At a serum PCT cut-off value of 0.283 ng/ml, the sensitivity and specificity for identifying the dialysis adequacy in PD patients were 0.913 and 0.805 respectively. The serum levels of PCT in peritoneal dialysis patients were significantly higher than the levels in healthy controls. Conclusion The serum level of PCT can be used as an indirect maker to evaluate the adequacy of dialysis.