Diagnostic and prognostic properties of procalcitonin in patients with acute dyspnea: Data from the ACE 2 Study

Abstract Background Procalcitonin (PCT) concentrations increase during bacterial infections and could improve diagnosis of pneumonia and risk stratification in patients with acute dyspnea. Methods PCT concentrations were measured Results We diagnosed pneumonia in 16 out of 140 patients with acute HF (11%) and in 45 out of 170 patients with non-HF-related dyspnea (27%). PCT concentrations were higher in patients with pneumonia vs. patients without pneumonia, both among acute HF patients (median 2.79 [Q1–3 0.18–5.80] vs. 0.10 [0.07–0.14]) ng/mL, p p Conclusion In acute HF patients, PCT concentrations were superior to CRP and WBC to diagnose concurrent pneumonia.