Diagnostic Accuracy of Serum Procalcitonin to Diagnose Sepsis in Advanced Solid Tumor Patients with Fever

Authors

  • Erni Juwita Nelwan 1. Division of Tropical and Infectious Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Universitas Indonesia – Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Jakarta, Indonesia. 2. Faculty of Medicine Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia.
  • Reza Nugraha Yulisar Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Universitas Indonesia – Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Jakarta, Indonesia.
  • Randy Adiwinata Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Sam Ratulangi University, Manado, Indonesia.
  • Ikhwan Rinaldi Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Universitas Indonesia – Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Jakarta, Indonesia.
  • Cleopas Martin Rumende Division of Respirology and Critical Care, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Universitas Indonesia – Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Jakarta, Indonesia.
  • Robert Sinto Division of Tropical and Infectious Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Universitas Indonesia – Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Jakarta, Indonesia.

Keywords:

Procalcitonin, Solid tumor, Advance Stage Cancer, Sepsis, Cut-off

Abstract

Background: Diagnosis of infection in advanced solid tumor patients can be challenging since signs and symptoms might be overlapping due to paraneoplastic condition. Delay diagnosis of existing infection can lead to more severe conditions and increased mortality. Procalcitonin (PCT) has been used to support the diagnosis of bacterial infection and sepsis. Unfortunately, PCT also increases in malignancy even without an infection. We investigated the diagnostic accuracy of PCT in advanced solid tumor patients with fever to diagnose sepsis. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in solid advanced tumor patients with fever patients who were admitted to Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospitals, Indonesia between June 2016 and April 2018. Sepsis was defined using 2001 SCCM/ESICM/ACCP/ATS/SIS International Sepsis Definitions Conference criteria. The diagnostic accuracy of PCT was determined using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results: A total of 194 subjects were enrolled in this study. 60.3% were female with a mean age of 49.47±12.87 years old. 143 patients (73.7%) with advanced solid tumors. Among this latter group, 39 patients (27%) were sepsis. The ROC curve showed that the levels of PCT for sepsis in advanced solid tumor patients with fever were in the area under the curve (AUC) 0.853 (95%CI 0.785 – 0.921). The Cut-off of PCT in advanced solid tumor patients with fever to classify as sepsis was 2.87 ng/mL, with a sensitivity of 79.5%, and a specificity of 79.8%. Conclusion:PCT has good diagnosis accuracy in advanced solid tumor patients with fever to classify as sepsis, however a higher cut-off compared to non-cancerous patients should be used. 

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Published

2024-07-16

How to Cite

Nelwan, E. J., Yulisar, R. N., Adiwinata, R., Rinaldi, I., Rumende, C. M., & Sinto, R. (2024). Diagnostic Accuracy of Serum Procalcitonin to Diagnose Sepsis in Advanced Solid Tumor Patients with Fever. Acta Medica Indonesiana, 56(2), 199. Retrieved from https://www.actamedindones.org/index.php/ijim/article/view/2773

Issue

Vol. 56 No. 2 (2024): Acta Medica Indonesiana

Section

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

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