The impact of admission procalcitonin on prognosis in acute coronary syndromes: a pilot study

Abstract

Background: Available evidence on the prognostic role of procalcitonin levels in acute coronary syndromes (ACS) is so far controversial.

Aims: To evaluate the association between procalcitonin, major cardiovascular events (MACE) and total mortality in acute coronary syndromes.

Methods: Procalcitonin levels were measured in 247 patients admitted to our Intensive Cardiac Care Unit (ICCU) with ACS. Three subgroups were considered according to procalcitonin levels.

Results: At Cox regression analysis, procalcitonin levels were both an unadjusted and an adjusted predictor (corrected for diagnosis and TnI) of intra-ICCU mortality and of 1-year follow-up MACE and total mortality.

Conclusions: In ACS, admission procalcitonin values identify a “higher risk” group of patients for short and long-term mortality.

Keywords::

• Procalcitonin
• cardiogenic shock
• acute coronary syndromes
• prognosis
• mortality