The clinical value of serum procalsitonin in anti-infection treatment for acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Objective: To explore the clinical value of serum procalsitonin(PCT) level in anti-infection treatment for acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(AECOPD). Methods: One hundred and twenty patients with AECOPD were divided into the PCT group and conventional group according to the random number table(60 cases each group).The use of antibiotics in PCT group was adjusted according to the serum level of PCT(PCT ≥ 0.25 μg/L,use antibiotics,and PCT<0.25 μg/L,not use antibiotics),and the use of antibiotics in conventional group was adjusted according to the clinical symptoms of patients and clinical experience of doctors.The rate of antibiotics use,length of antibiotics use,length of hospital stay,clinical effective rate,double infection rate,recurrence rate within half a year,inflammatory indicators[including white blood cells(WBC),neutrophils,C-reactive protein (CRP)] and blood gas index were observed in two groups. Results: The rates of antibiotics use and double infection in PCT group were significantly lower than those in conventional group(P<0.01 and P<0.05),and the length of antibiotics use in PCT group was significantly shorter than that in the conventional group(P<0.01).Compared with the conventional group,the length of hospital stay in PCT group was significantly shorter(P<0.01).There were no statistical significances in clinical effective rate and recurrence rate within half a year between two groups(P>0.05).After treatment,there were no statistical significances in WBC count,neutrophils level,serum CRP level and blood gas index between two groups(P>0.05). Conclusions: According to the serum PCT level in anti-infection therapy of AECOPD patients,the antibiotics use can be effectively reduced,the length of hospitalization can be shortened,the double infection rate can be decreased,and the therapeutic effect can not be affected.