PMID: 25755864Mar 11, 2015Paper

Can procalcitonin reduce unnecessary voiding cystoureterography in children with first febrile urinary tract infection?

Iranian Journal of Pediatrics
Aliasghar Halimi-AslPooneh Nabavizadeh

Abstract

Recently, new predictors of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) in children with a first febrile UTI such as Procalcitonin (PCT) were introduced as selective approaches for cystography. This study wants to show the capability of PCT in predicting presence of VUR at the first febrile UTI in children. Patients between 1 month and 15 years of age with febrile UTI were included in this prospective study. PCT values were measured through a semi-quantitative method in four grades comprising values less than 0.5, 0.5-2.0, 2.0-10.0 and above 10.0 ng/ml. The independence of PCT levels in predicting VUR were assessed after adjustment for all potential confounders using a logistic-regression model. A total of 68 patients, 54 (79.4%) girls and 14 (20.6%) boys were evaluated. PCT level demonstrated a significant difference between patients with positive VUR and those with negative VUR (P=0.012). To calculate the independent factors that may predict the presence of VUR, all included variables were adjusted for age and sex. Results of logistic regression showed that a PCT level between 2.0 and 10.0 ng/mL could independently predict presence of VUR (Odds ratio=6.11, CI 95%= 1.22-30.77, P=0.03). Our finding in this study showed that readily available s...Continue Reading

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