Beyond Bacteria: Surprising Conditions That Can Raise Your Procalcitonin Levels

Published: May 13, 2024

Procalcitonin is often called a bacterial infection marker, but it's not that simple. Several non-infectious conditions can also cause this protein to spike, potentially complicating diagnosis and treatment decisions.

The Trauma Effect

Severe physical trauma, such as from a car accident or major surgery, can trigger procalcitonin production. This is likely due to the intense inflammatory response and potential bacterial translocation from the gut. In these cases, procalcitonin might rise even without an active infection, making interpretation tricky. Doctors must consider the patient's full clinical picture when assessing procalcitonin levels after trauma.

Kidney Complications

Chronic kidney disease can lead to elevated baseline procalcitonin levels. As the kidneys play a role in clearing procalcitonin from the body, reduced kidney function can cause levels to build up. This doesn't mean kidney disease patients always have high levels, but it does mean their 'normal' might be different. In these patients, trends in procalcitonin levels over time may be more informative than absolute values.

Elevated procalcitonin levels can occur due to bacterial infections as well as non-infectious conditions such as trauma and chronic kidney disease, complicating diagnosis and treatment.

Cancer Considerations

Certain cancers, particularly medullary thyroid cancer and some neuroendocrine tumors, can produce procalcitonin. This can lead to persistently elevated levels even without infection. In patients with these cancers, procalcitonin may be less reliable as an infection marker. Other inflammatory markers or clinical signs may be needed to guide infection diagnosis and treatment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can medications cause high procalcitonin? +

Some drugs like anti-T cell antibodies can raise levels.

Do viral infections ever increase procalcitonin? +

Rarely, severe viral infections can cause modest increases.

Is procalcitonin affected by age or gender? +

Generally no, but newborns may have transiently higher levels.

Can exercise raise procalcitonin levels? +

Extreme endurance exercise might cause small, temporary increases.

Key Takeaways

While procalcitonin is a powerful diagnostic tool, these examples highlight the importance of considering the whole clinical context when interpreting results.

Concerned about your procalcitonin levels? Discuss with Doctronic to understand what factors might be influencing your results.

References

Grace E, Turner RM. Use of procalcitonin in patients with various degrees of chronic kidney disease including renal replacement therapy. Clin Infect Dis. 2014;59(12):1761-1767.

Mimoz O, et al. Procalcitonin and C-reactive protein during the early posttraumatic systemic inflammatory response syndrome. Intensive Care Med. 1998;24(2):185-188.

Always discuss health information with your healthcare provider.