Evaluation of diagnostic value of procalcitonin in pediatric acute pyelonephritis

Background and Aim: Urinary tract infection (UTI) in children is among the prevalent infections of childhood, which occurs due to growth of bacteria in the urinary tract. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of procalcitonin (PCT) as a reliable marker for distinguishing urinary tract infection (UTI) with or without renal parenchyma (cystitis). Materials and Methods: Eighty children, who were suspicious of having UTI and had been referred to Ali Ibne Abitaleb hospital (in Zahedan) or pediatric clinics (June 2007- Oct 2009) were included in the study after their urine culture revealed their infection. Besides, their clinical and lab symptoms including erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C– reactive protein (CRP), serum WBC, and serum procalcitonin (PCT) were recorded. The patients were divided into two groups based on their lab clinical symptoms and radio-isotope scans, namely acute pyelonephritis and acute cystitis (lower UTI). Serum procalcitonin was measured in these cases in a semi-quantitative manner. Results: Fifty children with mean age of 4.89±3.50 years were compared with 30 children with mean age of 5.20±3.07 years. ESR, WBC, and PCT were significantly higher in patients with upper UTI (P