Abstract
Introduction: Bacterial infections are common causes of mortality and morbidity among chronic kidney disease
(CKD) patients under hemodialysis.
Objectives: In this study the diagnostic value of serum procalcitonin for diagnosis of bacterial infections in patients
with CKD under hemodialysis was assessed.
Patients and Methods: In this cross-sectional comparative investigation, 47 patients with CKD under hemodialysis
were enrolled to the study. We studied the relationship of serum procalcitonin (PTC) and C-reactive protein (CRP)
levels (before and after dialysis) with “positive bacterial culture” and “systemic inflammatory response syndrome
(SIRS)” results. Sensitivity and specificity were determined by ROC test.
Results: Serum PTC before and after dialysis as well as the CRP before dialysis had no significant association
with positive bacterial culture (P=0.492, P=0.1 and P=0.268 respectively), however after-dialysis CRP had a
significant association with positive bacterial culture (P=0.032).
Conclusion: According to the obtained results, it may be concluded that the diagnostic value of serum PTC for
diagnosis of positive culture bacterial infections in hemodialysis patients is not satisfactory since the serum CRP
level especially after dialysis is more useful.