High Serum Procalcitonin Concentrations in Patients With Hemorrhagic Fever With Renal Syndrome Caused by Hantaan Virus

Objective: This study analyzed the significance of procalcitonin (PCT) in patients with hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) caused by Hantaan virus.

Methods: The demographics and clinical and laboratory data including PCT at hospital admission in 146 adults with HFRS were retrospectively analyzed.

Results: PCT level was significantly higher in severe patients ( n = 72) than in mild patients ( n = 74, p < 0.001) and independently associated with disease severity (OR 2.544, 95% CI 1.330–4.868, p = 0.005). PCT had an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) value of 0.738 (95% CI 0.657–0.820, p < 0.001) for predicting severity. PCT level was significantly increased in patients with bacterial infection ( n = 87) compared with those without (n = 59, p = 0.037) and associated with bacterial infection (OR 1.685, 95% CI 1.026–2.768, p = 0.039). The AUC value of PCT for predicting bacterial infection was 0.618 (95% CI 0.524–0.711, p = 0.016). PCT level was significantly elevated in non-survivors ( n = 13) compared with survivors ( n = 133, p < 0.001) and independently associated with mortality (OR 1.075, 95% CI 1.003–1.152, p = 0.041). The AUC value of PCT for predicting mortality was 0.819 (95% CI 0.724–0.914, p < 0.001).

Conclusion: PCT concentrations at admission would be predictive of disease severity, secondary bacterial infection and mortality in patients with HFRS caused by Hantaan virus.