[Concentration of procalcitonin and C-reactive protein in serum and erythrocyte sedimentation rate in active autoimmune diseases in children].

UNLABELLED: Procalcitonin (PCT), a 116 amino acid prohormon of calcitonin is a new acute phase reactant with features different to other markers of inflammatory response. The aim of the study was to compare PCT and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) in active autoimmune diseases in children. PCT, CRP and ESR were determined in 28 children with active autoimmune process in course of various diseases: ulcerative colitis (n = 7), Leśniowski-Crohn disease (n = 2), juvenile chronic arthritis (n = 9), autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (n = 4), dermatomyositis (n = 2), sklerodermia (n = 1), systemic lupus erythematodes (n = 1), Behcet's syndrome (n = 1), primary sclerosing cholangitis (n = 1). Serum PCT levels were measured by immunoluminometric assay, CRP by turbidometric assay, ESR was counted in millimetres after one hour. PCT exceeded 0.5 ng/ml in 5 cases (range: 0.0-2.4 ng/ml; mean: 0.4 +/- 0.1 ng/ml); CRP was above 0.5 mg/dl in 24 children (range: 0.2-25.9 mg/dl; mean: 7.1 +/- 1.2 mg/dl); ESR was above 10 mm/h in all but 2 cases (range: 3-124 mm/h; mean: 57 +/- 7 mm/h).

CONCLUSION: Contrary to CRP and ESR, serum PCT level in children with autoimmune diseases remains low. However in some children with highly active autoimmune process slight elevation of PCT concentration is observed without evidence of bacterial infection.