International Journal of Contemporary Medicine

Sepsis is the leading cause of death in non-coronary ICU patients, and the tenth most common cause of death overall according to data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score was constructed using physiological measures of dysfunction in six organ systems. Both C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) are accepted sepsis markers. But there is still some debate concerning the correlation between their serum concentrations and sepsis severity. This study is aimed at analysis of serum concentrations of CRP and PCT in varied severity of organ dysfunction in sepsis as assessed by SOFA scores.

This is a prospective study conducted in M S Ramaiah hospitals. Study included 70 consecutive patients admitted to medical ICU with a diagnosis of sepsis. Patients selected for study were categorized into 4 groups with different severity of organ dysfunction in sepsis according to SOFA score. Serum PCT [by Brahm's PCT Kryptor Immunofluorescent assay (Biomerieux, France)] and CRP[using SIEMENS] concentrations were estimated in all the patients.

Mean SOFA score (organ dysfunction) was higher among patients who died(10.93±4.46) than those who survived(6.21±3.49) & the difference is statistically significant(p<0.001).The mean PCT(ng/ml) and CRP(mg/L) concentration in those who survived were 14.95 and 150.316 respectively and in those who died were 46.86(p value <0.001) and 184.684(p value 0.172) respectively.

SOFA score and serum PCT concentration show significant correlation with respect to the severity of organ dysfunction and outcome in sepsis patients compared to serum CRP concentration. The diagnostic capacity of PCT is superior to that of CRP due to the close correlation between PCT levels and the severity of sepsis and outcome.