The Utility of Proadrenomedullin and Procalcitonin in Comparison to C-Reactive Protein as Predictors of Sepsis and Bloodstream Infections in Critically Ill Patients With Cancer*

Abstract

In critically ill patients with cancer, proadrenomedullin and procalcitonin both have a promising role in predicting bloodstream infections in a manner more helpful than C-reactive protein. These two biomarkers were superior to C-reactive protein in the prognostic analysis of response to antimicrobial therapy for those patients with documented infections. However, proadrenomedullin was superior to procalcitonin in predicting response in all febrile patients and was unique in showing increased levels among nonresponders.