Abstract
Serum procalcitonin was measured in 58 children with symptoms and signs of hepatic disease. According to mechanism responsible for liver injury, children were assigned to one of 4 categories: 1, invasive bacterial infection; 2, acute viral infection; 3, toxic liver injury; and 4, autoimmune disease. Procalcitonin concentrations exceeded normal values in all children with invasive bacterial infection. It was low in viral infection and toxic liver injury. Moderately elevated procalcitonin concentrations were present in 50% of children with an autoimmune process.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Adolescent
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Autoimmune Diseases / blood
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Autoimmune Diseases / etiology
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Bacterial Infections / blood
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Bacterial Infections / etiology
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Calcitonin / blood*
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Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide
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Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / blood
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Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / etiology
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Child
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Child, Preschool
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Humans
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Infant
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Liver Diseases / blood*
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Liver Diseases / etiology*
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Protein Precursors / blood*
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Virus Diseases / blood
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Virus Diseases / etiology
Substances
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CALCA protein, human
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Protein Precursors
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Calcitonin
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Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide