%0 Journal Article
%T Procalcitonin¡ªA Useful Biomarker for Pneumonia Associated with <i>Rhodococcus equi</i>?
%A Ann Kristin Barton
%A Martin Rieger
%A Dana Teschner
%A Heidrun Gehlen
%J Modern Research in Inflammation
%P 13-19
%@ 2169-9690
%D 2016
%I Scientific Research Publishing
%R 10.4236/mri.2016.52002
%X Background: Procalcitonin, a precursor protein of the hormone calcitonin, is a sensitive marker for sepsis in human medicine, which is used for diagnosis of bacterial pneumonia in adults and neonates to initiate antibiotic therapy. Objectives: In this study, procalcitonin was evaluated as a potential biomarker for <i style=\"font-family:'} ';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.5;\"><span style=\"font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;\">Rhodococcus equi</span></i><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\"> associated pneumonia. Methods: In four foals procalcitonin was measured at four time-points (day 0 before antibiotic therapy, day 1, 3 and 5/6 during therapy) in plasma using an equine specific ELISA. Inclusion criteria for the study were a positive sepsis score, ultrasonographic evidence of pulmonary abscesses in addition &gt;8 cm, a positive microbiology out of tracheobronchial secretion and positive response to antibiotic treatment (azithromycin 10 mg/kg BDW 24q PO and rifampicin 10 mg/kg BDW 12q PO) within a weak including improvement of clinical status and reduction of ultrasonographic score &lt;8 cm. Results: Procalcitonin concentrations remained below the working range of the ELISA (25 - 1000 ng/ml) in all but one sample. Conclusions: Procalcitonin cannot be regarded a useful biomarker in pneumonia associated with </span><i style=\"font-family:'} ';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.5;\"><span style=\"font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;\">Rhodococcus equi</span></i><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\">.</span>
%K Foal
%K Horse
%K Lung
%K Pneumonia
%K Procalcitonin
%K &lt
%K i&gt
%K Rhodococcus equi&lt
%K /i&gt
%U http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=66351