Use of Procalcitonin on evaluation of fever among neutropenic patients after stem cell transplantation

• Grant number: 10/01343-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: April 01, 2010
• End date: March 31, 2011
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Silvia Figueiredo Costa
• Grantee: Gustavo Kang Hong Liu
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FM). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Serious sepsis, sepsis, septic shock and sepsis with of multiple organ failure are the most important causes of death in post-transplanted neutropenic patients. Few works exist in literature to assist the diagnosis of the etiology of fever in the neutropenic. Literature is still scarce regarding the use of Procalcitonin (PCT) as marker of infection in the population of patients submitted to the hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). Therefore, studies that evaluate the role of PCT as marker for diagnosis, evolution and prognosis of fever in neutropenics patients after hematologic transplant are necessary.The present study is a prospective cohort that will follow 200 SCT patients and will evaluate the role of the PCT as marker of diagnosis and prognosis of fever of infectious origin in this population. Infectious etiology will be classified as bacterial, fungic or viral only if confirmed by positive culture or appropriate diagnostic test. The patients will be categorized in 04 groups: bacterial infection, fungic infection, viral infection, and negative culture for bacteria.Statistical data: The groups will be compared between themselves and about PCT levels. Calculations will be made to establish sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values of PCT. The clinical and laboratorial data will be stored in an Excel spread sheet ® 2003 for processing by diverse systems in software.