Significance of new semi-quantitative express-test on procalcitonin in determining severity of community-acquired pneumonia

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the association of a new semi-quantitative indicators express-test on procalcitonin and traditional markers of severity of community-acquired pneu monia with bilateral lung involvement in this disease. Materials and methods. In our one-stage comparative study, 123 patients took part. According to the survey, the participants were divided into two subgroups: patients with unilateral community-acquired pneumonia (n = 103) and two-way community-acquired pneumonia (n = 20). The average age of patients in the subgroup with unilateral pneumonia was 49.0 ± 21.0 (M ± SD) years, in the subgroup with bilateral pneumonia 54.0 ± 22.0 years (M ± SD), p = 0.56. Results. Bilateral community-acquired pneumonia in comparison with unilateral pneumonia proceeded with more pronounced increased level procalcitonin rapid test (p = 0.001), while traditional markers (leukocytes, ESR, CRP, fibrinogen) were not associated with the severity of pneumonia and did not differ among themselves in both groups (p = 0.124, p = 0.082, p = 0.814 and p = 0.258 respectively).