Background: Bacterial infections are Life-threatening complications in uremic children. Early diagnosis is mandatory but very diJfteult. because currently applied laboratory parameters may be affected by the underlying disease. the uremia, or the r..aemodialysis (HD).
Objectives: Evaluation ojthe diagnostic value ojserwn procaicitonin (PCT1 as an indic~tor ofsystemic bacterial infection in HD children.
[ Study Design: This cross-sectional short-term study was" conducted on 33 children agedJrom 7-15 (mean =9.1 ± 1.8 years). 23 were males and 10 were females, they undergo intermittent HD. Also 30 apparently healthy controls of same age group were recrrJ.ited irlto the study. Cases are classified into 2 groups. Group I: (injection +ve): include 15 patients with evidence ofsystemic bacterial iqfection. Group H: (injection -vel: in· clude 18 patients without evidence of systemic bacterial infection. For all cases blood samples before HD for determining CRP. CBC. IL-6. PCT. al·
bwnin and renalfimction testes.
. Results: PCT and CRP in group-I are significantly higher than group II while IL-6 and VVBCs were elevated in both groups. PCT demonstrated higher sensitivity. specificity. positive and negative prediction values than CRP. IL-6 and VVBCs. Further more. PCT serum levels were positively correlated with CRP. IL-6 and VVBCs values. where it was negatively correlated with albumin and haemoglobin values.