BACKGROUND: The prognostic value of elevated serum levels of @entity1904 (PCT) in @entity1 early after cardiac surgery on cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) remains unclear. In a prospective study, we investigated whether PCT is useful as a prognostic marker in cardiac surgery with respect to mortality, complications and @entity281 , and whether PCT is a specific marker for occurrence of @entity281 . METHODS: Within 8 months, a subset of 80 high-risk @entity1 (APACHE II-score: 25.1 +/- 4.7 (mean +/- SD)) out of a consecutive cohort of 776 @entity1 was investigated. Demographic data, operative data and clinical endpoints (mortality, @entity281 , severe complication) were documented. Serum levels of PCT were analyzed preoperatively and at postoperative day 1. RESULTS: Hospital mortality in this high-risk group was 21.3 %, @entity281 occurred in 33.8 % and complications in 58.8 % of the @entity1 . Preoperative PCT was normal in all @entity1 . Postoperative PCT was increased in non-survivors compared to survivors (34.3 +/- 7.0 ng/ml vs. 15.9 +/- 4.9 ng/ml; p < 0.05), in @entity1 with severe complications (30.3 +/- 6.7 ng/ml vs. 5.5 +/- 1.4 ng/ml; p < 0.05) and in @entity1 with @entity281 (38.4 +/- 11.3 ng/ml vs. 10.8 +/- 1.6 ng/ml; p < 0.05). Area under receiver operating characteristic curve for PCT as predictor of mortality, @entity281 and complications was 0.772 (95 %-confidence-interval (CI): 0.651 - 0.894), 0.720 (95 %-CI: 0.603 - 0.837) and 0.861 (95 %-CI: 0.779 - 0.943), respectively. PCT was not different with infectious compared to non-infectious complications. CONCLUSIONS: High levels of PCT are associated with mortality, @entity281 , and severe complications early after cardiac surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass and therefore provide a valuable prognostic marker. However, PCT does not discriminate between infectious and non-infectious complications.

XXXX is a valuable prognostic marker in cardiac surgery but not specific for @entity281 .

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients'] @entity1904 :: ('MESH:C029100', 'Chemical') :: ['procalcitonin'] @entity281 :: ('MESH:D007239', 'Disease') :: ['infections', 'infection']
@entity1904 :: (MESH:C029100,Chemical) :: ['Procalcitonin']
